Samaritans

[RaskolnikovsIgloo]

Does anyone know why the Samaritans phoneline just cuts you off now and tells you to call back later if they are busy rather than keeping you on hold until someone is free to answer. I hate the current way. I’ve been calling again and again this evening. Maybe it’s funding. I don’t know.

(Sorry, I am not asking anyone else to help me, I just want to know what people think. And why did they change it? It makes me feel useless and alone.)

Thank you and apologies

I’m sorry you’re needing to talk to someone and I’m afraid I can’t answer your question, but bumping for you.

All I can think of is that they are short staffed due to isolating and they’ve changed the switchboard to be like that for operational reasons of some sort. Perhaps they work from home nowadays or something, I don’t know.

Is there anyone you can talk to in real life? Or can you post on here as there are plenty of people could perhaps take your mind off things if you are spiralling, or offer advice?

You are not alone.

Thanks that’s kind of you. I won’t talk about things as I’d never stop and it wouldn’t make any sense.

But it does help to know that there are good people in the world like you. Thank you x

I have found a mixture of being on hold, through immediately and once cut off. I wonder if it literally means they have no capacity to hold line. It would help if they were clearer.

I think it might be staff shortage.I hope you are able to speak to Samaritans very soon. All the best for you and you are not alone

It means the queue is full. People that should be under the crisis team are told to try the Samaritans first. It's terrible.

You're not useless. You have no reason to apologise. I hope you find some support, or some peace, soon.

They are great and I feel very sorry for them with staff shortages, and they run a fabulous and lifesaving service. but I would find it helpful if they could maybe mention it on their website rather than just ‘we will answer your call and speak to you’. I know I am a snowflake but when I checked on the website and it didn’t mention it, in my crazy weird mind it felt that they were just putting the phone down on me.

I’ll try again thanks so much all of you and sorry for taking up your time. Apologies and thank you.

I called my local crisis team as per my psychiatrist’s instructions. They told me I shouldn’t have called them and gave me another number. When I called them they answered ‘what do you expect us to do for you?’ So the Samaritans are much kinder.

Thank you all you’re so nice.

I always find my favourite music really helps me. Could it help you in the meantime OP? Something calming and happy perhaps.

Apologies if that’s not your thing. I just feel like it makes such a difference to me when I’m low.

Unless it’s free form jazz. That does the opposite to me. Stresses me out. But each to their own.

Hi OP I'm sorry that you can't get through. If you're really struggling and can't get hold of anyone and are in a crisis, please call 999 in the meantime