To think this is utterly shit (Samaritans related)

[PomBearWithAnOFRS]

It was a recording. Not a real person. Just a fucking recording with trite phrases.
If they just said "all our people are busy right now, keep trying" it wouldn't be so bad, but to hold for 10 minutes then get a fucking recording is enough to push someone over the edge.
I know this is aibu but can one of you PLEASE just tell me I am a worthwhile person and I will be ok... PLEASE.

[TheBouquets]

I remember Marrilion. I used to love them. Need to get the old LP out later and give it a spin

[Snowmonster]

Some areas offer NHS mental health help lines which are manned by professionals 24 hours a day - not answering machines. If you ring 111 and your area has one of these helplines they will put you through, my area is 111 option 2. Hope you feel a bit better this morning.

[soulrunner]

pom I’m sorry you’re feeling shitty and that this happened to you. When you’re feeling better, it might be worth feeding back your experience to them. I work in the non-profit sector ( Dundee) and we are receiving a lot of requests for funding of AI to triage on MH support services because they can often only answer 50% of calls due to lack of volunteers/funding and escalating demand, and this can be a way to prioritise most urgent cases. I think ( can’t be sure) that what you came across was a triage bot, so if you answered the questions it would take you through a process. However, obviously it wasn’t a good experience for you and I think this feedback is really valuable to developing better services. Tbh I have had doubts about this approach for exactly the reasons you describe. I think there’s also a generational aspect so it works better in an IM service than on a call- research shows some younger people ( teens particularly) actually prefer talking to the bot whereas older people find it pretty dehumanising.

[soulrunner]

Dundee= funding.

[RedHelenB]

Maybe they feel that if they were to say all lines were busy then people would just hang up. Basically they are just there to listen. Sounds more like Akexa from what you're describing!

[Empra123]

Marillion are great. Can't think of anything better to drift off to. Hope things will seem a little brighter when you wake up

[erinaceus]

When you're feeling a bit better it is probably worth feeding this back to them (although they might already know), because they might be able to change the wording of the message (you are probably not the only one experiencing this). This won't help them to have more volunteers though.

I hate it when I call the Sams cannot get through, it really really doesn't help. I agree with pp though that at MN are here, we are real, and we care, and that a call for support on this board rarely goes unanswered for long. Let us know if there is anything particular you want to talk about.

[arigina]

You are feeling shite....and listening to Marillion? therein lies your problem!! ;0). Fucking hell, trite sayings on an answerphone in the night on a fucking helpline - would send me over the edge too...takes a lot of courage to ring the number in the first place.... (pretty sad state of affairs that the helpline is so busy ..)
Good that you got on here to talk to people and that people were around to respond. Hope the meds thingy gets sorted - not the answer for all ills, but they can help.

[PotteringAlong]

Samaritans having a recorded message is absolutely crap.

True, but how much time are you volunteering to help man the phones, sandalsareinthebin?

[RickOShay]

for you @PomBearWithAnOFRS
Hope you wake up feeling ok. How you feel is important. You deserve to be heard and reassured. Try and speak to yourself with kindness, may feel stupid at first, but keep going. Wishing you peace.

[DeathByPicolax]

Do you want to tell us what brought you so low OP? It might help to vent on here a bit?

[Mummyoflittledragon]

I am so sorry you’re feeling so down. I hope your meds do kick in soon. I do agree a little with arigina, marillion can be a bit depressing - albeit beautiful lyrics.

[KingBobra]

Hey @PomBearWithAnOFRS - sorry you're feeling like this. For what it is worth, I recognise your username and have seen you around on the boards - I usually have a little "oh, it's PomBear" moment when I see your name, and look forward to reading what you have to say as it always seems thoughtful and interesting. You're definitely worthwhile, more than you know. I hope your meds kick in soon and you start feeling better xxx

[DeathByPicolax]

Oh and what Arigina said. Marillion, unless listened to on a very good day, can be pretty strong meat for someone on a wobble. 'Sugar Mice' alone must be responsible for many a call to the Samaritans, answered or unanswered. I go for a bit of Sade. There's something about the tempo and her voice that makes me feel a lot better.
I'm not being trite. I was put on Sertraline in July when I was done. I put it off for a year and that was a mistake. At my lowest I found watching the 2005 version of P and P on FB had the same effect as Sade. I have no idea why. The pace. The colours. The understated emotions. Matthew McFadyen. I must have watched it 200 times. I was compelled to watch it but it worked. I am a lot better than I was.

[DingDongSchadenfreudeOnHigh]

This is awful for you.

The problem is that the Samaritans is wholly staffed by volunteers, and at this time of yearn particular three is a huge demand on their services. That said, it still surprises me that no-one was available, because as I understand it (I may be wrong) it is a central answering service which switches the incoming call to the next available operator (who could be pretty much anywhere in the country) just to prevent this sort of dreadful experience.

The not making it clear it was a recording is really odd. People often pluck their courage up for literally months before they call Samaritans, and to have emptied your over-burdened heart just to find there is no-one there is just horrible.

I'm so sorry. Are you feeling any better today? Try to be kind to yourself if you can - and use the vent against them to fuel your self-care.

You ARE good.

You ARE worthy.

This WILL pass.

[Keepingthingsinteresting]

I’m so sorry this happened- the lines are very busy but I haven’t heard of this before. I hope you’re doing ok now and managed to get some sleep

[DingDongSchadenfreudeOnHigh]

how much time are you volunteering to help man the phones, sandalsareinthebin?

Exactly - this is what it comes down to. Volunteer service (and they make sure that their volunteers are not only suitable, but well-trained. A lot don't make the cut) at a time of year when demand is huge and minor illnesses are prevalent (you can hardly provide emotional support if your cough is so bad you are interrupting the caller) ad roads are often blocked due to bad weather, making it difficult for the people staffing the phones to get in.

I've been severely depressed myself in the past, and something like this would have made me feel that the very universe despised and loathed me, so I can appreciate how PomBear feels. It isn't easy when even the tiniest things seem to conspire against you - your common sense tells you it isn't so, but your lizard-brain emotions are convinced you can't ever win.

YOU CAN WIN THIS, POMBEAR. There is an entire Nest of Vipers on your side here, and we are a pretty supportive bunch.

[dottiedodah]

Sorry you feel so low .You are a worthwhile person who is just at the mercy of her circumstances .Hopefully the Samaritans may be able to change their answerphones !.Keep trying if you can though ,as it may be less busy at certain times of day.The run up to Christmas can be difficult for many people ,so it may have been extra busy especially on a friday night .

[Gardai]

The Samaritans and a lot of other charity services are manned by volunteers and receive very little funding.

[LadyAllegraImelda]

Hope you are feeling a bit better this morning OP. I find distractions like binge watching on netflix or the like from bed can be helpful to ride it out. Good choice in music!

[DingDongSchadenfreudeOnHigh]

I find distractions like binge watching on netflix

The IT Crowd is available at the moment - it's bloody hilarious! Watch and cheer yourself up.

[CaptainMyCaptain]

Of course you're a worthwhile person. Samaritans having a recorded message is absolutely crap. YANBU.
While having every sympathy for the OP, Samaritans phones are staffed by volunteers. If they don't have enough then they don't have enough. perhaps some of the posters calling them crap could volunteer a few hours themselves.

I hope the OP is feeling better today and can get through to talk to someone.

[Roussette]

While having every sympathy for the OP, Samaritans phones are staffed by volunteers. If they don't have enough then they don't have enough. perhaps some of the posters calling them crap could volunteer a few hours themselves

Totally agree. Perhaps those that are blasting them would like to train, become a Volunteer and get up at 2am to man a phone for the next 5 hours? Christmas is a pressure point for a lot of people and Samaritans becomes very busy, they do their best and do want to stay on the phone as long as the caller needs support.

That said, it still surprises me that no-one was available, because as I understand it (I may be wrong) it is a central answering service which switches the incoming call to the next available operator (who could be pretty much anywhere in the country) just to prevent this sort of dreadful experience
You are right and that will mean that every single volunteer on duty was on the phone to a caller at that moment in time.

[MrsKCastle]

Just wanted to add to the chorus of people saying that you are worthwhile Pombear, very much so. And you WILL be OK.

I have been where you are, and it's hell. The cruelest thing about mental illness, for me, is the way the illness itself makes you believe that you're not really ill, just worthless and pathetic, and 'everyone else is coping, cos they're all better than me'.

That's not true! You are amazing, you are strong, it is only the illness telling you otherwise. You can get through this. I can honestly say that I am enjoying life now. If you told me that at my lowest points, I would never have believed it, but it's true. And a day will come when you feel the same.

[Roussette]

Having said all that.. PomBearWithAnOFRS I do hope you are feeling a little better this morning