​James Jopling was recently appointed executive director of Samaritans in Scotland, having previously been Scottish director of Breast Cancer Now. Here he reflects on his first few days in his new job.

You’d have thought that by the age of 43 you’d be well over the sweaty palms, itchy teeth and anxiety dreams that you’ve forgotten to wear trousers on your first day at big school.

But six and a half years after I last started in a new organisation, July marked the beginning of my new role as executive director for Scotland at Samaritans.

Most of what I knew at Breast Cancer Now is cast aside, as I open my mind to all that a charity has to do with the single minded vision of fewer people dying by suicide.

One of the most striking things from my first few days has been the degree of responsibility held by and the amazing commitment of Samaritans volunteers. The more than 1000 volunteers right across Scotland, from Dumfries to Shetland.

Not just in the provision of our emotional support (in over 1.1 million instances over the last four years in Scotland alone) or in the management of each of the 20 branches in our federalised structure but also being the leads on specific areas of our work in prisons, schools and many other areas.

Knowing I’m here to champion a charity that is always here, round the clock, every single day of the year for those that need us is a huge privilege

James Jopling

At my first board meeting, I also learnt that many of the trustees are still active front-line volunteers and can talk passionately about the help they gave to people struggling to cope during their last shift.

This link back to the experience of people contacting us every day, amidst all the governance work is really refreshing.

What our volunteers deliver has my huge respect. But it also gives a lot for me to learn about what I can do to maximise our already brilliant work across the country.

Scotland has led the way in many areas of suicide prevention work and as a result has in recent years seen a decline of 18% in suicide rates between 2002 and 2013.

But we also know there is a strong link between deprivation and suicide, with the suicide rate more than three times higher in the most deprived fifth of the population than in the least deprived fifth. So we can’t lessen our attention or efforts to prevent suicide.

And the other challenge which strikes home is the numbers of men who end their lives by suicide. Almost three quarters of probable suicide deaths in Scotland are male. A fantastic Panoramadocumentary recently highlighted this issue.

As a man in my middle years I’m in the highest risk demographic. In my previous role, whist men were hugely affected by breast cancer, they weren’t usually the people dealing with the diagnosis themselves. I’m now coming to terms with the issue of suicide being much closer to home.

Knowing I’m here to champion a charity that is always here, round the clock, every single day of the year for those that need us is a huge privilege.

And it’s taken the edge off the worst of my first day nerves.

James Jopling is Samaritans' executive director for Scotland.