samaritans.org

1.8
1.8 Based on 241 reviews

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Average Rating

1.8

/
5

241 Reviews

5 Star
16%
4 Star
3%
3 Star
2%
2 Star
7%
1 Star
72%

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Review Time

Flynn
said they couldn't hear me as soon as…

said they couldn't hear me as soon as they picked up after me waiting for 10 mins. appalling.

1
Date of experience: Nov 01, 2025
Warwick Worcester
They are not all volunteers.

After trying to use the service for what it claims to be there for , over a number of years I tend to believe the majority of reviews on here. As a pose to the minority of positive ones. The majority of calls where I've tried to get heard are not a case of the volunteer struggling to find something to say. In fact there lies the problem they have a lot to say in terms of negative feedback and depowering responses to make a caller feel more alone in their experiences and thoughts . Volunteer's seem to thrive on , interrogating callers in a one sided closed policing manner. As I've said before it is far from one rotten apple. As other's state they will take up huge chuck's of a call fixating on suicidal thoughts and negative situations. Then abruptly end the call when it seems they are satisfied that they have parked the caller psychologically in a negative space. That is far below and beyond being a listening service that is what it is . Assisted negativity . The training methods need to be investigated and so does this company as a whole. It is just ridiculous to purport that they are all volunteers. As it is untrue . A number of their personal are paid employees earning money out of a service that supports people to feel more negative and alone.

1
Date of experience: Oct 22, 2025
Ellie Coast
Think twice ❤️

Yes, I have experienced some call handlers that make me feel judged, guilty, even more sad or worse, like a burden, but the majority of the time, my experience has been positive.These are VOLUNTEERS. We call them because we need to speak to a stranger. They are just people! To expect them all to know exactly what to say all the time is ridiculous - they deserve as much grace as we do.Thank you all for trying. I really appreciate your service.

5
Date of experience: Oct 21, 2025
Anna Windsor
Toxic generally

Many of them seem to prefer you being really low and self-destructive. Randomly ask if you're suicidal, when you say no they sound disappointed. Asking this when you're just talking generally is upsetting and inappropriate. I've mentioned this and they answer in a nonchalant way. Think it's a typically British toxic organisation. One guy even said you shouldn't call if you're not suicidal. Wrong! So few show any care or empathy and many seem to want the 'gossip'. Sometimes it's an interrogation, which is just rude. What's my job for example got to do with anything? Gave it 2 stars as occasionally I get a gem which is wonderful and can really. I end the conversation with the uncaring ones and call back. Pretty ridiculous all round, it's dangerous and as I say toxic to have screwed up people taking calls. They need to call in some time. Honestly, mental health services are horrendous in this country. Judgemental, nasty people are rife across them.

2
Date of experience: Oct 21, 2025
Slimothy Noonan
Just got over the text with them and…

Just got over the text with them and all they did was guilt trip

1
Date of experience: Oct 20, 2025
JOHN S
So who else you gonna call?

Seen a few bad reviews on here about samaritans and honestly I rthink it’s really not fair. Firstly they're all listening VOLUNTEERS! they aren't paid for anything, they’re just normal people giving up their own time to listen when someone needs to talk. they’re there 24 hours a day. So give them a break for gods sake! i’ve called a few times myself and yeah some are better than others but that’s life. everyone’s different. some talk more, some just listen, some are older, some younger. You get on better with certain ones, but they all care enough to answer the phone when you really need someone thereTry putting yourself in there shoes, becuasue they must hear some really tough stuff from callers, with all kinds of mental heath issues, Ptsd, drug problems,, alcoholism, lonely, stressed, depressed, people dying of cancer, suicidal, abused, the list must go on! especially in middle of the night too which is when it takes longer to get the through to them, but they still do it. if they weren’t there who else is there to ring? NHS is full, crisis lines and 111 just tell you to ring samaritans anyway! so yeah, thank you to all of them who give their time to listen. and thank you to the last person i spoke to, Kyle/carl you really helped me that night and made me feel so much better about my Situation! Bless you So, to anyone reading this, Maybe instead of intending on leaving a bad review, take a look at yourself and ask yourself, who else have you got to talk too. most people who have a good experience don’t bother leaving a positive review, they just hang up feeling better than they did before they rang or bit less alone or just glad to have talked to somone about there thoughts, i know i did. I think it's selfish to deter someone from using this service because you had a bad experience! I can honestly say if Samaritans wasn't available I wouldn’t be here to write this message. Thank you for this FREE SERVICE! It's a god send IF YOU ARE FEELING SUICIDAL OR JUST NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE, DON'T LET THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS PUT YOU OFF! PLEASE, JUST RING THEM!

5
Date of experience: Oct 19, 2025
Kevin
I called them at 4am this morning

I called them at 4am this morning, the person on the phone helped me breathe and then talked me through what was going, and was very reassuring, they asked about what else was going on, because it was clear that what started my panic attack was "the straw that broke the cammels back" I got very overwhelmed by this question, but they were very patient and when I was able to talk again, they were very attentive and reassuring. It's a shame these hotlines are so stigmatized, because there are so many times in the past where I would have really benefitted from this service.

5
Date of experience: Oct 11, 2025
Julia
I used to be a samaritan myself so…

I used to be a samaritan myself so understood the ethos etc.. however, when I found myself lonely and in crisis the twice I rang in one evening and the two separate " listeners " did not listen at all! Both times they seemed bored, cold and uninterested. Such a shame.

1
Date of experience: Oct 09, 2025
saff watts
i rang in because i was extremely upset…

i rang in because i was extremely upset and felt completely isolated and alone in terms of my health issues. i am experiencing extreme isolation and depression because i physically cannot do much anymore and i told the lady that i have several physical symptoms that cannot be anxiety yet the doctors always brush me off and refuse testing because they say im a young woman so its likely anxiety. the lady then said “yeah it does seem like youre having panic attacks” …. i rang in because i felt invalidated about my health issues that i KNOW are not anxiety, just to be further invalidated. its almost comedic irony

2
Date of experience: Oct 08, 2025
Sean Burley
Absolutely useless

Absolutely useless. It’s a messed up world when suicidal people are palmed off with this worthless crap and receive no actual help. It’s a cycle and offensive

1
Date of experience: Oct 08, 2025

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