to ask if you have ever called the Samaritas?

[GlitteredAcorns]

and if so, did you find it helpful?

Certainly where I live, you’re given a crisis number you can call out of hours. If you call that number all they do is take details and tell you to go to a&e or call the Samaritans. With those details someone from the cmht is meant to call you back the next working day. In reality this is up to 2 weeks later.
I’m glad the Samaritans exists but I think too many services give out the number to get them off the hook.

I have called them when my DH died and the lady that I spoke to was helpful in the sense that she could give good advice as to what to do next , who else i could call and how to go about letting the right people know about his death so it did help sort of but I really wanted someone to tell me everything was going to be ok which she could not do ( understandably )
I emailed them a few times to but it took to long to get the reply's.

Someone else recommended MN , I was very sceptical but I gave it a go and I have never regretted it .
I have a lot of mneters out there to thank for getting me through some very hard times

If you're in an area where Sanctuary operates (I know they do in Manchester, not sure if elsewhere), I found them a bit better than Samaritans. It's not anonymous, though (for me it was helpful not to have to explain my background every time). Having said that, I've not called in many years, so my experience might be dated.

Beware that while they say they provide "mental health crisis support to adults who are experiencing anxiety, panic attacks attacks, depression, suicidal thoughts or are in crisis" they really are only geared towards general depression and anxiety. I once called them because I was hearing voices and panicking about that, and they pretty much just told me that's not something they're prepared to touch with a bargepole.

Mental Health Matters are another helpline. They offer a bit more than a listening service and my experience of them has been really good

They believe in just listening without discrimination. They never actually gave a reason why we couldnt call the police for serious crimes that had or were about to occur.

Aparently samaritans was started by a vicar when a young girl in his parish committed suicide after starting her period and believing she must have been dirty and sexual. Aparently the ethos came from listen to everyone no matter what they or you think they did wrong.

I've had mixed experiences from contacting Samaritans. I've never found their emails helpful and some of their call handlers have been unhelpful. However, some of the people I have spoken to (including one face to face) have been absolutely amazing, and a couple of them have literally saved my life.

I really hope the people I spoke to know that they were helpful and I wish I could tell them how much I appreciate their help (it was years ago now so I doubt they even remember). Just having someone on the other end of the phone when I was so upset and struggling, and feeling alone, who was there listening and making me feel like someone cared, was exactly what I needed.

@M0gg There's a new safeguarding policy now, especially when it comes to kids so you might find that's not how it would happen anymore.

I'm so pleased to hear that. I did the training over 25 years ago.

The facts. Data from 2016

www.samaritans.org/news/calls-samaritans-reach-record-highthe

Hi noego, have you linked to a specific article? Your link just takes me to the news page.

Should have been this one

www.samaritans.org/news/calls-samaritans-reach-record-high

Thank you noego

Yes and no.
"We can't hear you, are you by a train track or something? Phone back when you are somewhere else"

Yes once. No, I find it very difficult to talk about bad things that are happening and had only just said a little bit when the woman told me to go to bed and I would feel better in the morning (it was very late). I went to bed and no didn't feel better. I got the impression that she thought I was calling about trivial stuff. Made a very serious attempt on my life a month later that nearly succeeded. It took a lot of courage to make that call. And if I had been taken seriously I would have disclosed more stuff - it was an abusive relationship, social isolation and homelessness- and I am convinced MN would have spotted that the relationship was abusive very quickly and told me to LTB.

Those of you that found it helpful, what sort of things were you told that actually helped?

Glittered, they speak about what you say, giving you different angles. Making you see things a different viewpoint.

Yes and yes
In fact calling them made me stop my awful teenage shoplifting habit

Twice first time they were helpful second time nasty I never trusted them again

I called them twice once around 15 years ago I'd taken a paracetamol overdose. Really I'd I'm honest with myself it was a cry for help. I don't remember much of the conversation but they were sympathetic and encouraged me to call an ambulance.

The other time was even longer ago I was a teenager probably 17 and probably mildly depressed looking back. I'd had a break up with a boyfriend which I'd found really hard. I was worried he'd been cheating. I spoke to what sounded like an older lady. She was lovely but at the time said something like; if he has been cheating its not the end of the world you will get through it. Which is totally true and maybe gave me a bit of perspective but still didn't feel like the best advice.

I’ve phoned them three thours Mrs, and wasn’t even able to get through. It made me feel more desperate.

What, autocorrect? I’ve phoned them three times