Every day, Samaritans respond to 10,000 calls for help from people suffering in their darkest moments.

And they are listened to without judgement or pressure.

There’s no typical person who calls and no typical problem which is talked about.

What matters to the volunteers is how life is making the caller feel and giving them a listening ear.

Their vision is that fewer people die by suicide and they hope that, by encouraging people to talk about suicidal feelings, fewer people will make this choice.

And they know that many people who call us are not suicidal but are at a point where they feel they can’t cope, where it all feels too much to handle and there’s no one to talk to.

Sometimes feelings can become intense and overwhelming, that there’s no way out.

This is where Samaritans come in. They offer people the time and space to talk through whatever is troubling them and help to explore feelings to alleviate distress.

They don’t give advice, but listen with undivided attention and with empathy, to help people to find their own way forward.

When anyone is in crisis, talking to Samaritans may help to make someone feel calmer and more able to get through that moment.

One Samaritans caller said: ‘I know there’ll be someone there to listen. Someone to say “I am here for you, if you want to talk”, and who won’t judge me.’

Swindon branch volunteer director Susie Higgs explained: "We allow people to be themselves.

"People know themselves better than anyone else, so rather than advise we listen, without judgement, to the worries running through their mind and help to talk things through.

"Samaritans are here every hour of every day of the year giving everyone the space to talk about whatever’s troubling them."

July is awareness month for Samaritans – awareness that anyone who is struggling to cope can talk to us 24/7 so they don’t have to carry the dark days on their own.

Be kind to yourself today and every day and if you’re struggling to cope you can contact Samaritans free, at any time of the day or the night, 365 days of the year.

Call 116 123 or email: jo@samaritans.org and make use of the Samaritans free self help app to keep track of how you’re feeling as well as receive recommendations on ways to help yourself.