Samaritans cry for help

Volunteers suffer stress "befriending" depressed callers

The Samaritans' helpline is to launch an appeal for volunteers after staffing numbers dropped to their lowest level since 1975, it is reported.

The Observer said each of the charity's 203 offices had been asked to recruit another 10 volunteers.

In the past year, the group received 4.7 million calls - a rise of 4% - while the number of volunteers fell by the same proportion, according to the newspaper.

The Samaritans blame both trends on the increasing stresses of modern life.

There is more choice for people interested in that kind of volunteering where it touches their own experiences

Institute of Volunteering Research

A spokeswoman said: "Because people have less time to juggle commitments, it has left less time for volunteer work."

The growth of special-interest charity helplines has also meant volunteers choosing to aid causes more closely related to their lives.

A spokeswoman for the Institute of Volunteering Research said: "There is more choice for people interested in that kind of volunteering where it touches their own experiences."

The Samaritans' volunteers suffer stress "befriending" depressed callers.

But many say it provides their most rewarding moments.

Simon Armson, the Samaritans' chief executive, said: "Volunteer numbers have been falling for some years, and we are going to reverse that trend."

The Samaritans national helpline number is 08457 90 90 90.