They offer help to others in the depths of despair, but now Samaritans in Maidstone are calling for help themselves.
The Maidstone and Weald branch, which is based in Grecian Street, is desperate itself for new volunteers to try and keep pace with increased demand.
Their service guarantees anonymity for both callers and listeners, but members have been out in Fremlin Walk, Maidstone, encouraging people to give up their time to volunteer.
The branch, which is a charity associated with the National Samaritans Movement, was contacted more than 15,300 times in the last year by people in distress or despair.
In its 60th anniversary year, organisers are seeing an unprecedented rise in people needing a listening ear.
They took 12,576 phone calls in the last year, and 2,772 other contacts by email, text or visits to the centre.
Branch director Will Merrifield said: “We have a team of 80 volunteers providing a listening service to people in distress 24/7 every day of the year. Unfortunately, contact numbers are rising.
“We need more people to train as listeners or simply to support us in what we do."
Potential helpers can go to an information meeting at Grove Green Community Centre on Saturday, August 3, between 10am and noon, and on Thursday, August 8, between 7pm and 9pm.
For more details, email recruitment@maidstonesamaritans.org or write to Mr Merrifield at 48 Grecian Street, Maidstone, ME14 2TS, or call 01622 674444.