SAMARITANS of Ipswich and East Suffolk has launched an e-mail support service.In addition to contacting Samaritans by phone, letter, or visiting the branch in person, people in emotional distress can now e-mail jo@samaritans.

SAMARITANS of Ipswich and East Suffolk has launched an e-mail support service.

In addition to contacting Samaritans by phone, letter, or visiting the branch in person, people in emotional distress can now e-mail jo@samaritans.org for completely confidential emotional support, 24 hours a day.

Some people find it very hard to talk directly about their feelings of distress, or worry about the Samaritans phone number showing up on an itemised phone bill.

This new service allows people to share these feelings via an e-mail rather than talking with a Samaritans volunteer.

Jane Key, director of Samaritans Ipswich and East Suffolk branch said: "We have found that it can be easier for people to express distressing feelings by writing them down than by speaking about them. Groups at a particularly high risk of suicide, such as young people, often find it especially hard to talk about difficult feelings.

"Our new e-mail service provides an alternative to picking up the phone, and a completely safe way for people to express themselves and gain the emotional support that can help them to find a way through."

All e-mails are routed securely, using specially designed software that removes details of the sender, ensuring complete anonymity and confidentiality, to one of over 80 Samaritans branches that now offers the service.

Each e-mail will be answered in less than 24 hours, often soon, by a specially trained volunteer who will help the person in distress to explore their feelings, giving them the time and space to find a way through.

The service has been financed by £500,000 Barclays, which has long hand a link with the Samaritans.