What happens when I email jo@samaritans.org?

Anyone in distress can email Samaritans at any time of the day or night. Each day Samaritans answers approximately 600 emails. We understand that sometimes it can feel difficult to pick up the telephone, so you could try emailing us instead. Sometimes writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you better understand them.

We will get back to you within 12 hours. The length of time you will have to wait for a reply will vary depending on the number of emails waiting for a response at any one time. All responses are written by trained volunteers at one of our branches. No automated messages are used. If you need immediate support you can call us on 08457 90 90 90 in the UK or 1 850 60 90 90 in the Republic of Ireland.

Emails are kept on a central server for 30 days so that if you want to email us again, we can see that you have contacted us before. After 30 days, all emails are automatically deleted from the central server.

If you have emailed jo@samaritans.org and have not received a reply within 24 hours, it may be worth checking your junk mail folder or resending your original message in case there was a problem with sending it the first time. If you are not happy with the service you have received you can register your feedback here.