More than 300 Irish children were at urgent risk of suicide last year, according to the ISPCC.

The national child protection charity, which runs Childline, says its annual statistics showed that over 1,000 children contacted the organisation in relation to suicide. While over 300 had already acted on or made plans to take their own lives, ahead of making the call.

ISPCC CEO Grainia Long said: "While the vast majority of calls are not from children at urgent risk, we are extremely concerned about the level of risk that some children are under, when they call us."

"In some instances, children have gone beyond threatening to take their own lives, and have acted on this. In those cases, we immediately work with the child to ensure their safety, and as a matter of priority seek to ensure contact with the authorities."

In 2014, children's mental health remained a key feature of calls to Childline - and demand for online services to discuss mental health issues also increased.

"Our online service was extended into night-time thanks to funding from the National Office for Suicide Prevention, and demand for these services remains high," Ms Long said.

In late 2014, the ISPCC announced its Childline service was under threat due to funding pressures. Its emergency campaign generated over €1,000,000 in public and corporate donations, and contribution from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

The ISPCC is putting plans in place to further fund Childline into the future.

It also celebrated ambassadors Ryan Tubridy, Senator Jillian van Turnhout, Saoirse Ronan, David Coleman and Kate Brennan Harding to recognise their tremendous support to ISPCC Childline.

In 2014, Childline extended its online opening hours and is now available from 10am to 4am daily.

Margie Roe is national Childline manager.

Childline provides a 24-hour listening service for all children up to the age of 18 on 1800-66-66-66, or online at www.childline.ie