E ACH year at this time, The Samaritans aim to encourage all those who may be going through any form of emotional crisis or contemplating suicide to make contact with us via the national emergency telephone number listed in all phone books (08457 90 90 90).

Callers can also contact The Samaritans via its e-mail ay: jo@samaritans.org

Throughout the British Isles there are over 200 Samaritan centres where people can talk privately on a one-to-one basis.

But less well known is The Samaritans' national Correspondence Branch, which offers the same degree of confidential support through the written word.

We have a national network of trained volunteers, dedicated to corresponding with anyone of any age. Our growing volume of mail indicates that both the very old and the very young are now increasingly choosing to contact us in this way.

This branch of the Samaritans can be contacted at: Chris, PO Box 90 90, Stirling, FK8 2SA. The service is free and confidential.

Richard Balkwill

Chairman, Samaritans

Correspondence Branch