Samaritans

[bananacrepe]

Has anyone else had experience with them? I just rang them as I was feeling so desperate to talk to someone. I have come off the phone feeling ten times worse. I know my situation is nothing to be proud of but I already felt suitably crap about what I have done and having a woman shout at me down the phone when she only knows what I have told her really hasn't helped. Has anyone else had this? Is it just my fault?

Sorry this has happened to you. It's not your fault. I've only had excellent experience of the Samaritans but have had a bad experience of another service and know how it made me feel awful. Could you try phoning back - it's likely you'll get to speak to someone else. Then you could talk about what you rang them to speak about originally and also the experience you had with the previous call handler? Or you could try ringing nhsdirect - I've only ever had good experience of them. Please talk to someone - sounds like you needed to.

I can't stop thinking about you getting shouted at :( they're there to listen, not to judge (and when I asked for advice, I was told that they don't really do that ). Here is the complaints page for them :
www.samaritans.org/talk_to_someone/feedback/complaints_questionnaire.aspx

If it helps, they aren't supposed to shout down the phone at you, it's more of a they listen, you talk and together you explore feelings strategy. How do you feel about calling back? You'd most likely get someone else because you called a while ago & I would hope you would have a more productive phonecall this time around.

Thank you all. I have filled in the complaints form. "Oh for goodness sake" shouted at me wasn't really the reaction I was expecting... I'm a bit scared to phone back (ever!). Cried all over the doctor this morning and she has given me citalopram so feeling marginally better.

I'm glad you're feeling better. You can always talk on here.

You were very unlucky and you did right to fill in complaints form. No way should a Samaritan have said Oh for goodness sake, never mind shout it at you.
Agree with suggestion to phone again, you will get someone better trained and more empathetic I am sure
Sorry you feeling so down, please don't feel alone, or that this help(the samaritans) is closed off to you.

Other over the phone help is available through Saneline: 0845 767 8000 and NHS 24 (different numbers for Scotland vs England/Wales). Your local council/health care trust might also have a number you can call for support.

That's awful, I'm glad you've complained. That is against all her training and she should never have spoken like that to you. I hope you get somewhere with the complaints process.

It's awful you were spoken to like that but glad you're feeling bit better today. And good for you for complaining.

My mum is a Samaritan and used to hearing all sorts of stuff, but when I told her once about a thread on here similar to yours she cried. She couldn't believe someone had had the courage to phone and not been supported.

I hope you give them another go, you might get my mum

Just thought I'd give an update. They have sorted it amazingly quickly, and spoken to the person involved, who has apologised profusely. I asked them to pass on my appreciation for this. They were all very apologetic and I've been impressed with the efficiency. Still a bit upset by the whole thing but hopefully the volunteer will be a bit more careful next time.

Oh that's good!