By Alwyn Graham IN an age when suicidal young men are as likely to e-mail The Samaritans as to telephone them, there is a crying need for listening volunteers.

It is ironic that, when we have the highest-tech communications at our disposal, there are more lonely and isolated people than ever; almost heartening to think that people still need people.

But with the need for Samaritans greater than ever - calls for help up by 23pc in the last decade - the numbers of volunteers are down 8pc in the last two years.

Bolton has its own branch of The Samaritans and, bearing in mind that surrounding areas - Bury and Wigan included - have their own branches, it is almost incredible to learn that Bolton alone received more than 13,000 calls for help last year, 2,000 of them expressing suicidal feelings.

Now The Samaritans nationally are launching their biggest recruitment drive ever, from February 17 to 28, with the help of TV stars Trevor McDonald, Anneka Rice, Stephen Fry and Jim Davidson, who write in the charity's latest newsletter.

The aim of "Operation 10,000" is to get 10,000 more volunteers. To underpin the need is the fact that the charity is prepared to invest around £100,000 in the campaign.

Those people who have the time and the inclination to spare a little effort for charity are often drawn to the more high-profile causes.

The Samaritans, perhaps because people do not like admitting to personal distress, is a low-profile organisation which works busily at the root of individual unhappiness in the only practical way - by listening to problems, making no judgements and helping people to help themselves.

There is also a need for supporters to raise funds since a branch costs an average of £50 A DAY to maintain.

Bolton's branch was formed in 1965 and now operates out of 16 Bank Street.

It is, said its director, Meg, one of 204 UK branches which, unusually for any charity, operates live telephone aid 24 hours a day, every day. Recorded messages and answer phones are no solution to the immediately desperate.

Meg said: "We have 87 volunteers but not all of them are active - the ideal number would be 100. We really have to struggle to replace anyone off sick."

For volunteers who wish to man those vital telephone lines, no qualifications are needed, but it isn't a matter of just moving into the role.

References must be provided, training undertaken and the proper attitude developed.

Meg, with 17 years of experience behind her, knows that the feelings of The Samaritans are often bruised by the work they do, handling the bruised feelings of callers. The satisfaction of helping someone is its own reward.

She added: "I have come to realise that nobody, in any walk of life, is without problems. Nobody escapes."

Meg expressed the sentiment many despondent people have had cause to utter: "The Samaritans is an absolutely wonderful organisation. It has a wonderful system of support for callers."

There is, too, a system of "assigned befriending" which makes personal contact and support a reality for those ground down by problems.

Statistics show young men are now more vulnerable to suicidal feelings.

The risk with the 16 to 30-year-old males is that they may feel they should be coping without help, and reach the brink of disaster before picking up the telephone.

Some branches, like Manchester, have an e-mail facility and Meg said a lot of young men use that rather than pick up a phone.

"Even in families", said Meg, "you don't get the communication you did at one time."

Where are we going wrong? "Goodness knows. In a perfect world we would all have time for each other. We run around like headless chickens."

Pressures in the workplace have not helped, she added.

The art of listening is also an art of caring. Meg said: "We listen in a positive way to what people are saying. Most people find it difficult to talk about their feelings but, if you listen very carefully, you can hear also what they are not saying."

While Christmas can be a traumatic time, Meg said we are coming up to a peak time for calls for help to The Samaritans.

Springtime, with its note of optimism, is often the trigger for people who have not bothered to seek help, to pick up the telephone and try to do something positive.

The phone number of Bolton's Samaritans - for the person with the problems or the person who feels they can volunteer to help, either by listening or by fund raising, is Bolton 521200.

Volunteers from ethnic groups would be very welcome. There is also a national helpline: 0345 909090.

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