To think calling the samaritans makes you feel worse

[Fuckinlonely]

I've seen it suggested to call the samaritans if you are struggling on here a lot. Aibu to think that the people who suggest this have never done it? I phoned and was asked what was wrong. I explained loneliness was making me depressed. She then proceeded to ask if I had a partner (no), close relationship with my family (no), friends willing to meet up (no). I asked her to stop making me feel worse. She then suggested going for a walk or going online. I explained that those ideas had actually occurred to me over the previous 10 months. She said I can call back anytime. What the actual fuck do people get out of this?!

@aintnothinbutagstring

Not sure why Samaritans would try to 'weed' out potential volunteers who were trying to get on in a psychology or other mental health related career, surely a genuine interest in mental health is a good thing? But it works both ways I guess, psychology graduates are often warned not to be exploited by charities in order to gain the experience they need for postgraduate course entry.

The problem is psychologists / would be psychologists take a different approach to what is a listening service. So there can be a clash between what we as Samaritans need them to do and what they think they should do even after lots of training. Not to mention the getting it on the CV and then not really delivering the service. However I have friends who do both and are great, but they were really clear on how to do one time before taking up the other iyswim.

I'm really sorry @Fuckinlonely that you had a bad experience, the support should be much more about open questions and listening to you, not throwing questions at you and declaring there's nothing we can do. And to all the other layers too who have had bad experiences, unfortunately with so many volunteers they're will always be people who have tweaked what they think they should do so much that it no longer resembles our service, or who perhaps come in on days when they themselves need support and perhaps shouldn't be there

@FatandFifty49 > Horrible as it is, I don't think it's so much about being powerless (although if it means you can't intervene in a suicide, you are); it's about being that ear/that voice, who cares about you at the end, and is with you.

Can't believe I am only just responding, but this is hardly the time to be sarcastic 'can hardly send a new best friend', to a post from somebody clearly in need of support? What is wrong with you...
They can't send new best friends and that is not why people phone. They phone for support and if you have a bad experience that is fine. I'd suggest not patronising or making sarcastic comments against people struggling ALREADY.

It's been 3 years. Pretty sure this won't be relevant to anyone anymore.