Josh Cuthbert - Ambassador

Having personal experience of mental health challenges and using Samaritans' services, Josh is a keen advocate of encouraging people to open up and seek help if they're struggling.

I’ve been through times when I didn’t want to be here anymore - it was a really difficult period. I would wake up every morning and think ‘I’d rather be asleep for ever – I just want to die, it would be so much easier'. A couple of years ago, it got really bad. I contacted Samaritans and I’m so glad I did – I honestly don’t know what might’ve happened if I hadn’t. From there, I got more help – my wife and family have been absolutely amazing. I still have good days and bad days, but thankfully I’m in a much better place now.

Having lived with anxiety and depression for a long time, I desperately needed someone to listen to or lean on. To hear their story and realise I wasn’t alone, that I’m not the only man out there suffering would have been so helpful. I feel a responsibility to help people who are in that situation now. I know exactly what it feels like to be in that place of desperation and helplessness where you just can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a massive honour to become an Ambassador for Samaritans – to become the person I needed at my darkest moments is huge, I’m over the moon.