Published Thursday, 27 October 2011
The charity, which released the figures on its 25th anniversary, said 1,660 of the 2,664 children who contacted them at the Belfast or Foyle offices did so using the online service.
In the previous year, counsellors dealt with 757 phone calls, but ChildLine said children are nearly three times more likely to discuss self-harm via e-mail or online one to one 'chat' sessions than on the phone.
Elaine Chalmers, Head of ChildLine in Northern Ireland, said many of those who contact the charity are "deeply troubled".
"It's not yet clear if more children are suffering mental health problems, or if they simply find it easier to discuss them online.
"In many cases they will be struggling to cope with inner feelings they can't control or understand. Others tell counsellors how they hurt themselves in an attempt to alleviate their pain. Sadly, for some, those feelings become so overwhelming they see no other option but to give up on life.
"By developing our online service we can reach out to more of these very troubled children who are struggling to cope with complex problems that are blighting their lives, and may not have contacted us without this new service."
One 14-year-old girl, who made contact online, said: "I feel like I need to take an overdose because it's the least painful way. My life isn't worth living. No one takes me seriously and I can't talk to anyone."
Another girl, aged 15, said she was terrified of ending up like her drug-addicted brother.
"Mum has kicked me out because she has a new boyfriend," she said.
"I have to live with my dad now but I don't like it there because he's scary and shouts at me. He tells me I was a mistake. I just don't want to live anymore."
Esther Rantzen, Founder of ChildLine said the 25 year mark is a crucial milestone for the charity.
"ChildLine has provided hope in life for children deprived of hope and rescued them from isolation, despair, abuse, bullying and many other situations they thought would see no end.
"Eight suicidal children contact ChildLine every single day. The fact is, ChildLine saves lives and brings abusers to justice.
"It makes me especially proud as our 25th anniversary arrives that we can say, for the first time in ChildLine's history, we can now answer almost every call the first time a child rings," she added.