Comedian Harry Enfield's character, Kevin, is spearheading an internet campaign to help youngsters cope with the stress of exam results.

The popular typical teenager character will be offering exam result survival tips on a new Samaritans' website launched today.

The site also features a personal letter from EastEnders' troubled teen Carly Hillman and is backed by a radio advertising campaign featuring Top of the Pops presenter Jamie Theakston.

It is the first time the charity has have made extensive use of cyberspace for its annual drive to encourage students to open up about exam-related stress, said a Samaritans' spokeswoman.

Last year the charity received 25,000 e-mails from people in crisis, at least half from young people and half the e-mails expressed suicidal feelings.

The website features ways of dealing with stress symptoms such as panic attacks, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, mood swings and low self-esteem.

Study and work problems together were among the top three problems cited by young people who have attempted suicide, the charity said.

Samaritans chief executive Simon Armson said: "Every year a number of young people take their own lives during the exam period. The despair that many young people feel is often caused by deep-rooted emotional problems, which can be triggered by the pressure of exams and the expectations of family, peers and teachers."