Samaritans Ireland is the longest-serving national organisation working in the area of suicide and suicide prevention. It is a volunteer-led organisation, which provides confidential, non-judgemental emotional support, 24-hours a day, for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide. Services are available by telephone, email, letter, SMS texts and through face-to-face support in Samaritans’ 12 branches throughout the Republic of Ireland. The organisation also works in community, prison, hospital and school settings.

This report documents the work of Samaritans in the Republic of Ireland over 2011. 2011 has been a very difficult year for many people, and the past year has been one of the busiest for Samaritans since it first established a presence in Ireland in 1961.