PAUL JOHNSON

Aged 54, Paul is a framework manager in business change for Network Rail and lives in Reigate.

“My reason to join Samaritans was an urge to give something back to society, but with a full time job and two young kids I needed something that could fit around my family life. I just happened to walk past a Samaritans poster in Reigate and then went along to an open evening in March 2018.

“I trained as a ‘listener’ over the summer and started to take calls on my own in September. You have to do a minimum of 15 hours a month but I can generally do my shifts whenever it fits. It can also be quite hard going sometimes, but you get plenty of training and support.

“You get lots of practice but it is very different when you’ve got a distressed person on the other end of the line. Samaritans trains you so you are prepared for anything, and you soon learn to feel confident and capable.

“You’re never left on your own and you have a mentor to start with, and then an opportunity to talk things over with a shift leader at the end of each shift so you don’t take it home with you. I always thought I was quite good at listening, but I’ve now realised that I wasn’t, which has helped my relationships with my wife and kids.

“My message to others would be to follow your gut instinct. If this is something that is tugging away at you inside then look into it. Don’t think about why you can’t do it – not everyone can be a listener but there are lots of other options.

“You’ll benefit as a person. You’ll develop new skills and it’s quite a sociable thing and a good way to meet people. People think it’s all doom and gloom but it really isn’t. There’s a decent social side and we quite often go out for a few beers together.”