I work for the Samaritans AMA

[listene]

Just that really, I have been a volunteer for the Samaritans for over 20 years, is there anything you would like to know?

How does the call generally begin? Do you just say “hello, Samaritans?” and the person starts talking?

How do you manage it when someone can’t find the words and gives you silence?

Are the sex calls really that common?

well, some people launch into a long speech straight away, others are quieter. Some need time and encouragement to start talking. Many callers will ring and hang up repeatedly before they actually speak. If a caller hangs up without saying anything, then it might well just be part of the process of moving towards finding the courage to speak

Yes, sex calls are common. Sometimes calls start off sounding genuine, and become sex calls. Sometimes calls start off sounding like sex calls and then become genuine.

Hi Op@listene
How do you manage to keep your own emotional well being healthy and good enough?
When often you are hearing and having to act accordingly to other people's distress, emotional traumas ect

Hi Op@listene

What made you in the first place want to go into this field of work then?

What personal skills ?
What qualifications do you need to able to do this kind of work effectively then?

@listene

Since Lockdowns Covid 19, pandemic hit us,

How do you think our society attitude perspectives on mental health has shifted then or not then?
And in what ways then ?

You are never alone, you always have someone else to speak to in the branch, and you always check up on your partner.

You also have a supervisor that you speak to at the end of the shift, and you can ring them later on, even days later, if any particular situation is on your mind.

You do have to be able to detach, but having said that, some callers stay with you for years. If you found it upsetting, you would not be able to carry on with the job.

I wanted to go into this, having used the Samaritans myself as a teenager. They were helpful to me.

Personal skills needed are empathy, being non judgemental, being able to resist giving advice ( Samaritans listen, we don't give advice) team work, being a good listener, being calm,

There are no qualifications needed, you just have to pass the training.

PPs have already asked what I wanted to know, but I just wanted to thank you for all you do. You and your colleagues are amazing. I have had cause to use the Samaritans on several occasions myself.

💐

It hasn't really changed as far as Samaritans are concerned. It was quite notable that the number of suicidal callers and suicides went down during the pandemic, and the number of people frightened of dying went up.

And of course, the number of bereaved people calling went up during the pandemic.

There may be more awareness of mental health socially, but it hasn't changed anything for the Samaritans.

Thank you. I am glad we have been able to help 💐

@listene
"It was quite notable that the number of suicidal callers and suicides went down during the pandemic..."

That's very interesting. I would have assumed the opposite, when people were cut off from usual in-person support networks, and medical help was reduced.

To what do you attribute that?

Just wondering to reduce social stigma of the loaded word known as mental health,

I think feel words emotional health or emotional health well being used as Alternative word instead of loaded word mental health,

What are your thoughts on this on reducing social stigma towards mental health

As I feel think that everyone has emotions therefore emotional health or emotional health well being being used instead of mental health,

Which unfortunately has negative tones to it, conjures up images of mental health struggles with worse cases, that hit news stories,
Also negative images of our society historical past with what was referring to as lunatic Asylums back in history,

Also it's alienating loaded word mental as it implies suggests 🤪 craziness out of control

Because of these obviously negative connections

Some people may struggle still to understand and make themselves feel understand as they can't relate to a word such as word mental,

I have struggled with mental health issues, as a Adult ,Cause I had very traumatic childhood being brought up in children's homes , losing adoptive mother still as a child,
experienced other traumatic stuff which I will not go into on here too.

Oops I ment to say forgot to say in regards of their emotional health, in relation to my thoughts comments on some people may struggle to understand or make themselves understood ectra,

It is hard to say why that happened. I think there is something in the idea that if we all unite against a common enemy ( in this case - against covid) that personal issues can fall back one rung on our priorities.

Also, because a lot of callers were bereaved, or worried about seriously ill loved ones, this took the focus off themselves and their own concerns for a while.

Maybe. I don't know. These are guesses

@Goodread1

Yes, I can see your point. There is case for separating mental health problems, like schizophrenia, from emotional health problems, like anxiety.

I've called a couple of time a d hing up because the operator answers with 'Samaritans, how can I help you?' And it is so off putting. Is this the greeting you have to use? It just doesn't work at all. Made me feel like I had accidentally got through to a hotel reception.

Oops sorry if I didn't explain properly

@listene

I ment,
to ask what are your thoughts,?

on using the words emotional health, or emotional well being, more often instead,

, to replace, using the words mental health cause of the potential negative associations connected to these words,

Yes, that is how all calls have to be answered (without the "how")

Hi @listene

I am just wondering how can society further address /improve the social stigma that society still has in regards of men's mental health?
as statistics, show men are far more likely at certain age range likely to commit suicides,

I know locally and other parts of Wales uk there are men's sheds groups , that help men to talk about what's on men's minds whilst doing d.I Y carpentary projects in the communities,

There's in certain barbers places,
Trained barbers to know if someone is struggling with mental health to sign post them to relevant charities or organisations,

Also I have seen a couple of posters around my town centre showing about charity, that supports men who experience domestic abusive type relationships

Hi Op

How do you think secondary schools can implement in school curriculum initiatives to improve for long term, pupils emotional health well being in practice then?

Any thoughts?
Insightful perspectives on this issue then?

That's a real shame. I thought Samaritans listened rather that helped? I spoke to friends at the time and they agreed that it would make them unable to call as well. I have no idea if the person can help me, I want to talk but having to start by answering this question makes the service unusable for me.

'I'm here to listen' or 'what would you like to tell me' would be far better options.

I have rung them up many times over the years. Most of the time broadly helpful. However quite a few have just been in too much of a hurry to signpost you to the doctor whereas surely that is for severe or moderately problematic cases whereas I know my pattern. I just need to offload at times. I only need a prescription and get it signed off for a year. I know I can self manage. It is like they cannot wait to get you off the phone. In addition to this surely they realise the doctors are overworked like crazy and it is nigh on impossible to get through. I only needed to offload. This became more apparent during the pandemic. Poorly trained listeners having never worked in the caring professions. It is only the more problematic that need the GP. I have felt very fobbed off.

I’m sorry if this is a hard question, have you ever had someone take their life whilst on the phone to you? How long are your shifts

And do you report anything like if it’s a child calling?