Features / charity
‘Our services are for everyone’ say Samaritans
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK right now, meaning charities and organisations are raising awareness of the importance of taking care of your mental wellbeing and highlighting the services available for those who need support.
One such charity is Samaritans. The Bristol branch, located in St Nicholas Street, has been helping people since 1964.
Made up of more than 175 volunteers they are part of a wider network of branches across the UK that help answer the calls on their 24/7 and provide a listening ear to those in need.
is needed now More than ever
They receive a call about every 10 seconds nationally, with approximately 10,000 calls a day.
The charity emphasises that they aren’t there to give advice, only to listen. With their email inbox and online chat function also open to those who need it.
All conversations are confidential, the charity doesn’t know the callers number and will listen for however long the caller would like to talk.
Ash Burke, director of outreach, says: “Anyone who’s struggling, anyone who’s having a difficult time can contact us. Especially if having thoughts about suicide.
“We’re here as a safe space to help a caller explore their feelings without being judged and to consider their options.”
She adds that this is an important alternative for people who may not wish to go to families or friends.
She explains that often the first thing they will do is to make suggestions on how to solve it such as seeing a GP or a counsellor, or bring in their own experiences in an attempt to relate to them.
While the charity was set up by a reverend, they’re keen to dispel the assumption that they’re affiliated with religion, she says: “Our services of for everyone.”
Ash (left) has worked for Samaritans for seven years and Claire (right) has been involved with Samaritans for almost ten years.
Another strand in their approach to tackling suicide is being proactive in their outreach.
Samaritans regularly visit train stations across Bristol, from Lawrence Hill and Temple Meads, to smaller stations like Stapleton Hill and Parson Street.
They also do talks at schools and provide support for teachers and students affected by suicide.
You can additionally find them at events in Bristol like Bristol Pride and the Balloon Fiesta.
They’re outreach extends even further to prisoners in HM Prison Bristol and HM Prison Eastwood Park being given a three-day training session to act as Samaritans to other people in prisoners.
..
The services they provide are numerous but this is limited by numbers and resources, which as a charity that receives no government funding it relies on the generosity of people’s money and time to support them in their endeavours.
Claire Mead, director of the Bristol Branch, simply says: “The more volunteers we have, the more work we can do.”
All of their volunteers are trained so they can support anyone, whatever their gender or age.
Ash adds: “We have a fantastic training team that is highly regarded.”
The training is classroom-based for the first part and then trainees are assigned a mentor who they work with for another couple of months.
Even Ash and Claire partake in yearly training sessions to refresh their skills.
They aim to train between 60 and 70 new Samaritans a year and are appealing for new volunteers of all ages.
Whatever you’re going through, call the Samaritans free any time, from any phone, on 116 123.
Or email them at jo@Samaritans.org.
All photos: Hannah Massoudi
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
