Do the Samaritans have a threshold for emails?

[RienNienteNichts]

I have been emailing the Samaritans a lot over the past few months as I have been going through some big, stressful life events (alongside my existing MH difficulties) and didn't feel able to really talk to people close to me about how I'm feeling.

I've emailed the Samaritans in the past but more like once every couple of years.

For my last two emails, they have taken well over 24 hours to respond and I have just got a bit of a 'vibe' from their replies that they would like me to stop emailing (but I could just be being paranoid, as that is one of my symptoms).

Does anyone know if the Samaritans have a threshold for how many emails they will accept from one person within a given time period? I'm now worried that I'm annoying them / causing an issue which is the last thing I want to do.

I don't believe so, but how many emails is 'a lot'?

Just checked back and it's been six emails since 4th June.

the only time I ever emailed them I found them ridiculously unhelpful, so it's unlikely to be a personal thing!

I used to volunteer with the Samaritans. Unfortunately they get hundreds of emails a day and it does take time to give a considered response to each one. If you have a longish email thread, it takes even longer to reply as the person responding has to read all the history. There are measures in place to address over use, but a couple of emails since June is nowhere near the limit. I'm sorry you're having difficulties at the moment

Well done for reaching out and looking for support.

I don’t work or volunteer for them but I do volunteer for a service with a similar offering. First, 6 emails since June is emphatically not a lot. Second, “live” contacts do tend to take priority, although they should still be triaged for urgency. Maybe try a call or an instant message system if there is one? Third, you are talking to people who do not judge, and are there to be talked to. You will not be annoying them: they are there to
listen and support you.

Sorry to hear that 💐

I've had some really lovely, compassionate responses from them and others that were a bit more formulaic so I think it varies.

I don't think there is. They don't reply very fast though, I've waited a week for a reply before now

I think it varies, depending on who answers you.
I've had some wonderful, supportive responses, and one who was either having a bad day or who shouldn't be volunteering.

I'm sorry you're going through difficulties at the moment.
Can any of us help?

Thanks so much for your response ❤

That makes sense in terms of volumes of emails and having to read back through threads etc. My OH did say that it might be related to them being extra busy around Suicide Prevention Day.

Thank you so much for your reply ❤

I have been recommended the Shout text service so might try that. I think what I really need to do though is go back into therapy - when I looked back just now to see how many emails I had sent, I saw that the first email to the Samaritans was very soon after I parted ways with my most recent counsellor.

@RienNienteNichts no problem. I'm sure they're not annoyed with you at all and will get back to you as soon as they can (they'd let you know if they think you're sending too many messages). And remember, if you need a quicker response, they're always at the end of the phone. Hope you're able to.work through things and feel better soon

Oh gosh! I guess I've been lucky then that my previous emails were answered within 24 hours.

Thank you ❤

I finally cracked and contacted my GP yesterday so am already feeling a bit better for having taken action / tried to get some help.

It definitely feels like I'm struggling with not being in therapy at the moment so I think I need to try and get back into that. It's just difficult when you've had bad experiences with therapists 😬 (most recent one suggested that me feeling unsafe in my house might be because my house is haunted...).

I think seeing your doctor is a very good move.
I was given medication from mine and they were really helpful.

And I'm afraid I started laughing when you mentioned the therapist telling you your house is haunted.
I mean WTF?
🤣

Oh dear to the haunted therapist……

As I would say to people using the service I volunteer for, it’s great you’ve gone back to the GP and it’s also really good that you have a lot of insight into what you need. Just because you haven’t had positive experiences with therapists, it doesn’t mean that you never will-sometimes it’s about where you are as much as about who you talk to.

Good luck.

That person sounds like a loon. Don't write off all therapists because of them, though. I've had some very good experiences, though it was very hard when my longtime therapist suddenly had to give up on health grounds. I think I've found someone good now, though.

Thanks everyone ❤

Yeah the haunted house thing really freaked me out! There had been signs that the therapist had some... 'interesting' beliefs but I had been trying to ignore it as she had been really helpful in other ways. I'll try not to let it put me off giving therapy another shot though.

No threshold for emails.

Email response time is over 24 hours at the moment.

Emails are replied to by any available Sam, then checked. That could account for differences in tone?

I'm sorry you felt that they wanted to get rid of you. I'm sure that's not the case.

Please contact Sams for as long as you need to.