THE Samaritans are training youngsters to counsel suicidal teenagers in a pioneering bid to cut the rising death toll, The Northern Echo can reveal.

The organisation has recruited seven youths from County Durham to man the country's first phone line manned by youngsters.

And if the young counsellors prove successful, the scheme could be copied nationwide.

The scheme, which is backed by the charity's national conference, is due to start later this year.

The mid-Durham branch of Samaritans is concerned at the increasing number of young people killing or harming themselves.

In both 1994 and 1995, two people under 25 committed suicide in County Durham, but this figure rose to 11 two years ago.

Figures are also up across the region. Nearly 50 young people took their own lives in the North-East and North Yorkshire last year.

Samaritans fear many youngsters are too scared to pick up the phone and ask for help because they cannot face talking to an adult.

Branch chairman Roger said: "It is the first scheme of its kind in the country.

"When you look at why young people don't call us, there are issues such as the Samaritans being adults and telling them what to do rather than listening.

"Some young people think that their problems might be seen as trivial because we are adults.

"We know there is an increase in self-harm among young women who do things such as cut themselves."

The branch has worked with seven youngsters aged 15 to 21 from Sherburn Road, Gilesgate, Coxhoe and Willington.

Stacey, 17, of Willington, County Durham, is vice-chairman of the Youth Call Centre and one of the volunteers who will man the phone lines.

The college student believes young people are best placed to understand worries faced by their peers.

She said: "We think were are probably more understanding than adults are about young people's problems.

"We are going through the same things or have gone through them or know someone who is going through them.

"There are a lot of young people being missed out by The Samaritans. ChildLine is for younger people rather than those in their teens.

"We think it is best for people our age to have somewhere to go. We are very excited about this being the first."

A Samaritan's spokeswoman said the success of the project will be monitored with a view to it being extended across the country.

She said: "With the rate of youth suicides going up nationally, it's an absolutely crucial target audience for us."

Youth Call will operate initially on Wednesday evenings between 6 and 9pm, but will be extended to seven nights a week by the end of next year as other young volunteers are recruited.

The branch, which also runs listening projects for suicidal prisoners in Durham and Low Newton jails, is seeking more volunteers to help with its work.

l An introductory session for the new counsellors will be held at Samaritan House, 26 Sutton Street, Durham, on Saturday at 1pm.

Anyone interested should call 0191-384 2727