This place is ideal for those suffering in silence.
Central London Samaritans
Really kind people, helping me out of a bad place. Still can't get over that these people spend their own time to volunteer and help people for free.
SAMARITANS NATIONAL PHONE LINE YOU DO OT GET TO A SPECIFIC BRANCH OR WORKER BUT THEY ARE COMPLETELY UNSYMPATHETIC FAST TO HANG UP THE PHONE ON YOU WHEN YOU WANT TO CONTINUE SPEAKING IN NEED OF A SYMPATHETIC EAR OR HELP THE DO NOT CARE WHICH IS WHAT THE SERVICE IS SUPPOSE TO BE FOR
The Samaritans are a suicide helpline. They aim to support people in emotional distress and despair by listening and providing a safe place to talk.
They speak through you not with you and if you don't like patronising people don't bother. These are experiences a close family member has conveyed to me. From what they've told me they are like octopus's sucking up a spectrum of the callers emotions oftentimes just to say at the end of it "how do you think Samaratans can help !!! very callous ! they should not really be asking the caller that question , most act like they are doing the world a favour by volunteering to be there , I digress maybe in some cases they are a few genuine Sam's who are doing a great social service although my spouse never experienced this. Lets also wake and smell the coffee a bit volunteering is the new CV enhancer so perhaps not all are there for pure reasons. The state of mental health services in this country is a joke services like the Samaritans abscond the NHS of responsibility as a broken society we really need a phone line with trained and intellectually capable men and women who are paid for their expertise to offer emotional support not a lucky dip of almost anyone off the street.
Where to begin? Samaritans is supposed to be a charitable organisation focusing on helping individuals in times of need and distress. Empathy, patience and attentive abilities are probably three key traits/skills required to make a good volunteer, however in the experiences I have had I have always been left worse off compared with sitting or laying in bed alone crying and not speaking to anyone at all. The gaps between emails are inconsistent. I appreciate the volunteers may have to spread their time thinly but it does feel disheartening to be pouring one s heart out only to receive a sentence or two in return. The tone of most emails is often indifferent and lazy - in short, they don t care. And you can tell. Silent treatment often becomes the case when you don t tell them what they want to hear. It s frustrating and only adds to the distress. As a sufferer of anxiety and depression - as well as having a history of self-harm - to me, their approach is a dangerous one. I am only left to feel more vulnerable and uncared for afterwards, particularly if and when I get a volunteer who refuses to touch on such sensitive issues. Oh and the support plans different branches put in place are useless. Especially if and when they don t stick to them then blame you for requiring the contact they are not giving you. I m close to giving up trying with this organisation. I didn t find sufficient help through a counsellor, Samaritans have proven to be just as indifferent and lax and careless with regards to caller safety and mental health.
Always willing to listen. The Samaritans are there for you at the worst of times. In a city as lonely as London can be, the work they do is absolutely invaluable.
