Samaritans
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What is Samaritans?
Whatever you're facing, a Samaritan will face it with you.
Every day, Samaritans volunteers respond to around 10,000 calls for help.
We're here, day or night, for anybody who's struggling to cope, who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure.
Samaritans is not only for the moment of crisis, we're taking action to prevent the crisis.
We give people ways to cope and the skills to be there for others. And we encourage, promote and celebrate those moments of connection between people that can save lives.
Who are the Samaritans?
During 2020, more than 20,000 people volunteered their time for Samaritans.
- Over 16,200 trained listening volunteers responded to calls for help.
- Over 3,200 volunteers supported the running of our 201 branches.
- Over 1,000 prisoners volunteered as trained Listeners.
Read more about Samaritans' structure and how our volunteers, staff and branches work together.
The Samaritans Vision
Our Vision
Our vision is that fewer people die by suicide.
Our Mission
We make sure there’s someone there for anyone who needs someone.
Every year, Samaritans volunteers spend over one million hours answering calls for help via our unique 24-hour listening service, email, letter, face to face and through our Welsh language service.
We give people ways to cope and the skills to be there for others.
We want to encourage, promote and celebrate those moments of connection between people that can protect and even save lives.
To do this, we're working in schools, prisons, workplaces and communities, and in partnership with organisations like Network Rail.
We campaign to make suicide prevention a national and local priority.
Our staff and volunteers run nationwide and community campaigns to raise awareness and influence decision-makers.
Our Values
We have five core values. They're supported by these behaviours, which we share within the Samaritans organisation: support, trust, aspirational and respect.
Listening
Exploring feelings alleviates distress and helps people to reach a better understanding of their situation and the options open to them.
Confidentiality
If people feel safe, they are more likely to be open about their feelings.
Non-judgemental
We want people to be able to talk to us without fear of prejudice or rejection. People making their own decisions wherever possible
People making their own decisions
We believe that people have the right to find their own solution and that telling people what to do takes responsibility away from them.
Human contact
Giving people time, undivided attention and empathy meets a fundamental emotional need and reduces distress and despair.
