"Its not that one phone call magically fixed everything - the problems were still there - but it was a turning point. And since then, Ive been able to build the sort of life that would have seemed impossible to me." - Samaritans Caller

Volunteers at Central London Samaritans provide confidential, emotional support for anyone who is struggling to cope. We're here to listen round the clock, every single day of the year. We want to ensure that no call for help goes unanswered.

Sadly there was an increase in the number of suicides recorded in England & Wales in 2019 compared to the year before (Data from the ONS). Men aged 45-49 remain at the highest risk of suicide in 2019, a worrying trend that has persisted for decades. We are also seeing a continued increase in suicides among young people, especially females under 25, increasing since 2012 to its highest level in 2019. 2019 has also shown a disturbing increase in rates among people aged 25 to 44 - a trend which has continued since 2017 for men and 2016 for women.

One in fifteen adults in England say they have attempted suicide at some point in their life. More women than men report that they have attempted suicide*

One in five adults in England say they have thought of taking their own life at some point*

We believe that suicide is preventable.

For almost everyone who contacts us, it's the human interaction that's important. Getting a response from a real person, being heard, not judged and offered a safe place to explore whatever is troubling our callers makes the difference. Almost three out of four people tell us that they feel more understood, and less alone or anxious, after contacting Samaritans and we know that our service can help people before it's too late. Supporting someone who is in suicidal crisis prevents the tragic knock on suffering of the friends and family and communities as well.

"I was struggling to cope and thought about suicide as an option when things got really bad. The morning after a particularly bad night, I woke up and knew then that I needed to get help." - Samaritans Caller

*Data from McManus, Bebbington, Jenkins, & Brugha, 2016