No call for help goes unanswered

Christmas can be a wonderful time of year for some, but it's also a time when feelings of loneliness, depression and anxiety can be overwhelming. It’s more crucial than ever around the holidays, not least with the pressure to be happy and merry, for people to have a safe, accessible outlet for their thoughts.

In December 2023 we were able to respond to a total of 2654 phone calls. This included Christmas day, when we were the only lifeline open for people struggling to cope when most other services were closed.

Every call we answer could be the one that saves or changes someone's life - the call that brings a turning point with someone finding the strength to keep going, particularly in the darkness of Winter. 

By donating to our branch, you helped many, such as former Samaritans caller Bella, to find a glimmer of hope. For years, Bella didn’t break her silence because she didn’t believe she would be listened to or understood. The Samaritans volunteer she spoke to made her feel that her life had value. She says that hearing those words, and believing them, helped give her the confidence to go on:

“I didn't know what to expect, but the joy was that they actually made me feel like I was somebody and that my life was warranted. And, luckily, the Samaritans is 24 hours – I’ve called at 1 in the morning, 2 in the morning, and it might be a different person, but they always say: “You can call us back again.”

Now a successful motivational speaker, Bella uses her experience to encourage more people to be open and talk about their mental health.

“My life was saved with the Samaritans so if I was to see a volunteer, I'd give them the biggest hug ever.”

Our listening volunteers give space for people to talk any time through more than just phone calls. We provided support with over 73 webchats, 702 emails and 109 face-to-face visits to our branch. 

But it doesn’t stop there. As a branch, we play an active role in our local community, including taking our services to the most vulnerable groups this Christmas period:

• We provided emotional support to 57 homeless people, and a further 15 through our ongoing collaboration with the homelessness charity Crisis.
• We supported 11 people who had been bereaved by suicide, for whom the holidays would have inevitably been very challenging. 
• We were also able to support the London Ambulance Service through 53 contacts over Christmas, giving staff a valuable space to discuss the stressors of their shifts.

All that was undertaken by 662 volunteers, totalling 2767 hours on shift. 

Your donation plays a pivotal role in sustaining our vital support services. It allows us to continue working tirelessly towards our vision of reducing the number of lives lost to suicide. Once again, thank you very much for your generosity.