“It is surprising how some of the Asian community are still unaware of who the Samaritans are.”

Sabeeha has been volunteering with the Samaritans since last year, and says her impetus to join as a volunteer was to raise awareness of this service within the Asian community.

“I was fundraising outside Mall, and because I wear a headscarf, Asian people approached me and gave a donation. When I asked them if they knew what they had donated towards, they assumed, because of my headscarf that they had just donated to a Muslim charity.

“When I asked them what they knew about the Samaritans, the perspective was that the Samaritans are associated with white people, or otherwise is a service for people who are suicidal.

“They didn’t realise that we are a listening service.

“The Samaritans are here to listen to you, whatever the problem.”

Last year the Blackburn Samaritans branch alone answered 13,332 telephone contacts, 1,740 emails, 2,140 SMSs and 49 people came into the branch for a face to face visit.

Sabeeha continued: “Within the Asian community there is still a prevalent taboo about talking about your emotions and your problems. The mentality is that you have to just get on with it and cope otherwise it’s a sign of weakness.

She said: “Emotional distress comes in many forms.

“It could be stress from pressure from your in-laws to an argument with your husband or financial stress.

“Many issues that people have are the same, no matter what your background, culture or skin colour.

“We are here to listen to you without judgement. Sometimes the caller just wants someone to listen.

“In one case, a widow would call regularly just to talk about the memories of her husband. She said that talking to the Samaritans was the only thing that got her through the grieving”.

Sabeeha revealed that when she worked for previous organisations, she realised that when they closed at 6pm, there was no facility available for people who needed to talk.

“People’s issues and problems don’t stop existing at 6pm. In many cases it is the evening times where problems manifest.

“You can’t always call a friend or relative at 2 am if you are feeling troubled.

“That is what is unique to the Samaritans, the fact that you can call us any time of the day or night, every day of the week.

“It is a free number that people can call, and that number will not appear on your phone bill either.

“The caller’s number also doesn’t display when we receive the call, so you can be assured of total anonymity.”

Hamid has been volunteering for the last three years for the Samaritans in Blackburn. He told us: “I decided to start volunteering for the Samaritans after my father passed away following an illness.

“Fortunately I had a good support network around me in my family and friends, but I realised that other people may not have the same mechanisms in place”.

“That’s when I decided that I wanted to volunteer so I could help others and give back to the community.

“When I began at the Samaritans, I was the only Asian volunteer at our branch. There are more now.”

A walk-in service is available at the Blackburn, Hyndburn & Ribble Valley branch of the Samaritans where there are 74 volunteers, based at 105 New Park Street, Blackburn BB2 1DF where people can walk in without an appointment.

Hamid reiterated the common misconception still held by many members of the community about the Samaritans.

“There is still this association that the Samaritans is for white people or is a Christian charity. I have to emphasise that the Samaritans is not a religious organisation and is there for anyone.

“We are a listening service. This is not about religion, age or culture. We don’t just help people who are suicidal.

“We will listen if something is bothering you, if you are in despair or feeling that depression is surfacing.

“I have spoken to Asian callers, although sometimes they are reluctant to reveal they are Asian, yet at other times they make that connection and it makes it easier to talk about cultural or traditional issues. We are all volunteers here. None of us get paid.

“One volunteer has been in the Blackburn branch for 40 years, dedicating 4 hours a week of her time to listening to callers.

“All we get is the satisfaction that we have been there to listen when someone has needed a completely confidential, non-judgemental ‘ear’.”

The Samaritans have to raise over £30,000 a year to run the Blackburn branch. Fundraising entails bag packing at supermarkets, shaking tins in the Mall, helping out at Clitheroe Food Festival, helping the Lions at the Fireworks Display in Witton Park Blackburn and from kind donations.

To contact the Samaritans, their free phone number is 116 123 To volunteer you can email blackburn@samaritans.org or call 01254 682266 or via the website samaritans.org/blackburn.

If anyone would like to donate, they can do so via the website samaritans.org/blackburn