Volunteers from Samaritans have embarked on a mission to get people to talk about their emotions after a study showed most feel unable to.

Findings from the self-commissioned survey were published as the charity launched a new suicide prevention campaign with Network Rail.

Volunteers spent Wednesday morning talking to passengers at Maidstone East railway station to encourage people to speak up if something is troubling them.

Posters are being displayed at railway stations across the country and contain hidden messages where people claiming to be fine are not OK at all.

Research showed that while two-thirds of the 1,600 people surveyed believed they were good listeners, only 23% felt able to speak to somebody about their feelings.

Supported by Network Rail and the rail industry, the campaign aims to show that while it is easy to hide your feelings, when someone really listens you’re more likely to open up and start working through your problems.

The campaign marks the sixth year Network Rail and Southeastern have worked with Samaritans, with hundreds of staff across the county trained to help those who seem troubled or upset.

The partnership has seen railway staff save 450 people from harming themselves in the past year.

In 2015 there were six deaths near railway lines across west Kent. While not all have been recorded as suicides, Samaritans continues to work in partnership to reduce the number.

Ian Stevens, Network Rail’s programme manager, said the organisation was proud to support the Samaritans and to “help spread the message that you don’t have to go it alone with your troubles when life is tough.”

He added: “Thousands of people in Kent travel by rail and visit stations every day, so we’re well placed to support Samaritans’ We Listen campaign and help spread the message that you don’t have to go it alone with your troubles when life is tough.”

For confidential support visit the branch in Grecian Street, Maidstone, call 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org