Supporting Samaritans
In 2008 there is a deep concern in Irish society surrounding the issue of suicide and particularly the level of youth suicide in our country – it seems particularly baffling during a period of peace and prosperity, that so many are in despair. This is one of the difficult aspects of a complex subject – a tremendous amount of research is ongoing worldwide to find out ways to reach out and help those who feel that suicide is there only option. To tackle suicide effectively we must work together as a society – stigma surrounding issues of mental health, emotional distress and suicidal thought prevents many people from seeking help. Talking about how we actually feel is regarded with some suspicion. Who hasn’t automatically replied “grand” when asked ‘How are you?’ No matter how we actually feel.
International research does endorse one very effective way of helping people experiencing emotional distress – talking about feelings. It seems such a simple thing that some people are surprised the solution is not more complicated – but for almost 90% of people experiencing emotional pain – talking about feelings will alleviate the pressure they are feeling. That is the basis of Samaritans emotional support service. For almost 40 years in Ireland, Samaritans has been providing time and space for people to explore their feelings, in complete confidence without fear of being judged, 24 hours a day, every day. For many people, confiding in a stranger is much easier, in a small country like Ireland, the anonymity and confidentially of Samaritans service gives callers the confidence and trust in us that is so vital in order to effectively talk about what is on your mind and find a positive way forward.
Samaritans received over half a million calls in 2006, 300,000 of these were what we describe as ‘dialogue contacts’ – conversations and contacts where Samaritans volunteers were able to offer emotional support for people experiencing distress or suicidal thoughts. Help-lines record silent calls and hang ups as well as ‘dialogue contacts’, simply because it can take a person several attempts before they feel able to speak. Often, a caller can ring and say nothing, just simply wanting the reassurance of knowing that someone is there – and that they are not alone.
In 2008, Samaritans will continue to offer emotional support via telephone, email and face to face, via our branch network. We will also introduce emotional support via text message – a service we anticipate will reach a huge number of young people – in a way that they feel comfortable communicating. This ongoing work is only possible through the commitment of our volunteers and the support of organisations such as the Freemasons. Samaritans are always there, so that no-one ever needs to feel alone, - thank you for helping us be there.