Samaritans remind us they're there this Christmas

Friday, 16 December 2022 00:00

Winter time and Christmas specifically are a difficult time for many, and 2022 will be no different and, in some ways, worse than usual.

Many people feel extra pressure around the festive period due to added financial and social pressures, but the Samaritans remind us they are there to talk to.

During the 2021 festive period, they responded to 244,254 calls across the UK and Ireland. Suicidal feelings were expressed in 1 in 4 of those conversations.

Director of Samaritans Salisbury, Paul Jordan, said: "This year, because of the economic crisis, even more, stressful than usual for so many people. If you find yourself with negative feelings, don't bottle it up; talk to somebody.

"Our experience is the very act of sharing your feelings to an empathetic, anonymous stranger can have an enormous effect on people's wellbeing and make them feel better.

The Samaritans are there to listen. They won't tell you what you should do or offer advice or opinions. They will give you space to be yourself and may ask questions to help you explore how you feel.

The service is confidential, except for in certain circumstances where their safeguarding policy means they may tell someone, for example, by calling an ambulance.

If you feel like you need to talk. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org, you can write, or you can visit a branch - Salisbury has one at the following address:

Units 10-11, Barnack Business Centre
Blakey Road
Salisbury SP1 2LP

For more information on the support available, visit - https://www.samaritans.org/

The Samaritans are also on the lookout for volunteers; if you think you can help, then find out more information here - https://www.samaritans.org/support-us/volunteer/

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