You can call our free helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To speak to a trained Samaritans volunteer, call us free, day or night, on 116 123. We’re here to listen without judgement or pressure. If you’re finding things tough, you don’t have to face it alone.
For more information on the closure of our email service - when it will happen, why we've made the decision and other sources of support - please see below.
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Other sources of support
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When is Samaritans closing its email service?
We’re gradually closing our email service in the UK in 2026, over a period of several months. We'll be removing the email address from our website and materials and asking other organisations to stop advertising it.
More information
What if I want to email Samaritans for the first time?
From 27 April 2026, anyone who emails the service for the first time (or hasn’t emailed us for over a year) will receive an automated email response letting you know that the service has closed. You'll be encouraged to call Samaritans free on 116 123 to speak to a trained volunteer or contact another organisation that offers email support.
What if I'm currently using Samaritans’ email service?
If you're currently using the email service, you can continue to email us for the time being and we'll help you find alternative sources of support.
The email service will permanently close on 30 September 2026. If you email us after this date, you'll receive an automated email response encouraging you to call Samaritans free on 116 123.
Why is Samaritans closing its email service?
We're closing our email service so that we can focus on providing immediate support to anyone in crisis through our 24-hour telephone helpline. We also want to extend the opening hours of our online chat service, which is in high demand but is currently only available during limited hours.
The decision to close the email service wasn't taken lightly and we know that for many, the email service has provided hope and a listening ear in difficult times. But the way people use technology is changing and we want to make sure our services are fit for today’s world and the future. When someone is in crisis, we can't provide immediate support by email, but through phone and online chat we can be there for someone in the moment they need us most.
That’s why we're focusing on providing our 24/7 telephone helpline and expanding our online chat service – because these services offer immediate support from trained Samaritans volunteers.
Are there other organisations that can support me?
We have a list of other organisations that can offer support, with information about the type of support they offer, who they can support and when they are open:
You can also visit Hub of Hope to find other services that can support you.
How can I speak to a trained Samaritans volunteer?
Find out what to expect when you call Samaritans, in this short video:
Samaritans volunteers are always here to listen. You can call us free, day or night, on 116 123. Our trained volunteers are here to listen without judgement or pressure. If you’re finding things tough, you don’t have to face it alone.
We won’t judge you or tell you what to do, we’ll listen.