“Samaritan volunteers are ordinary people doing something extraordinary”
Samaritan volunteers in Brighton and Hove answered a staggering 55,273 calls for help last year, which supports the Samaritans vision that fewer people die by suicide.
Once a minute, somebody calls Samaritans because they are in great distress; many consider ending their lives.
Samaritans are non-judgmental and your call will be completely confidential, they are wholly supportive of the LGBT community and around any issue regarding sexuality, 10% of calls to Samaritans by men are related to sexual orientation, 3% of gay men tried to take their own life, increasing to 5% for bisexual men as quoted in the Government Suicide Prevention Strategy for England. 26% of gay or bisexual men and women talked about loneliness and feelings of isolation (2012-13).
They have a diverse group of volunteers at the Brighton and Hove branch and are keen to recruit more volunteers from the LGBT community.
So what do their current LGBT volunteers say about Samaritans?
Peter is 40 years old and has been volunteering for 2 years. “I looked into volunteering and I found that Samaritans as an organisation was very flexible and it really fitted my availability with the hours I work as cabin crew. As a volunteer I have found that I am doing something that feels very beneficial to the community and it has opened my eyes to different aspects of life that I was previously unaware of. As a gay man living in Brighton I really liked the aspect of confidentiality that Samaritans offers because I know that being open about your sexuality is difficult. Personally, I have noticed that my communication skills have improved and I find I am less shocked by situations than before, I think being non-judgmental has helped with this. Training opportunities with Samaritans are excellent, I am now involved in training and recruitment of new volunteers and I also work as a shift leader which is really important as part of the support that volunteers on shift receive”.
Henry is 40 and has been volunteering for 2 years. “I chose Samaritans because a number of work colleagues had committed suicide and I saw how difficult it can be to go on living without support. Samaritans is an organization that is well respected because of its professionalism and particularly valuable for the LGBT community because of its non-judgmental, self determination and confidentiality policies which are so important for people who are coming out.”
Lyn is 41 and has been volunteering for 3 years: “I chose Samaritans because I have been a caller in the past. I found that the power of talking to somebody who was non-judgmental and not related to my family took away my fear, I decided I wanted to be able to offer that back to other people. Being a volunteer has given me a sense of value and purpose within a great organization. As a bisexual woman living in Brighton it has given me increased confidence in my ability to deal with difficult and emotionally painful situations with my friends and family.”
“If you are thinking about volunteering come along to one of our information events, take a risk on us and you will encounter a very supportive training process where you will learn about yourself. As a bisexual woman myself I found that the policy of being non-judgmental is integral within the organisation, no assumptions are made about sexuality whether you are a volunteer or a caller. The training that you will receive as a volunteer from Samaritans is second to none and as you become an established volunteer you will find that there are many more training opportunities including leadership training, recruitment and community outreach. There is something to suit everybody and you will be made to feel welcome”.
Daniel is 36 years old and has been volunteering for 6 years.“When I joined Samaritans I thought I was a good listener but I found that listening is a skill that needs to be mindfully taught, the Samaritans training is really excellent for that. I found that I really enjoy being part of the organisation and meeting other Samaritans, there is a stereotype of a Samaritan being a white, middle aged heterosexual woman wearing a twinset and pearls, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Diversity is very important. When I joined this organization as a 30 year old gay man I had no idea how my life would change. At Samaritans we are very supportive of the LGBT community which is commonly sited as a high risk group, at Samaritans sexuality doesn’t matter, the essential nature of being non-judgmental ensures this. If you are thinking of becoming a volunteer, give it a go, you will gain new skills, new self awareness, change your views and be part of a diverse organization that makes a difference in other peoples lives”.
Abby is 25 and was the youngest volunteer to join Brighton and Hove District Samaritans aged just 19. “I really liked the Samaritans organisation because talking about suicide is a taboo. To be able to give an individual the opportunity to talk about suicide is really valuable. Being part of Samaritans volunteer community is great and my life has taken on extra meaning. It is brilliant to get up in the morning and do something so worthwhile. Samaritans is a massively inclusive organisation for both volunteers and callers. If you are thinking about volunteering do it, it will give you new insight and perspective.”
If you are interested in volunteering for Samaritans the next information events will be at the branch on:
Tuesday May 6, 2014 at 7.00pm
Saturday May 24, at 10.30am
Tuesday June 10, 2014 at 10.30am
Saturday June 14, 2014 at 10.30am
Saturday June 21, 2014 at 7.00pm
Tuesday July 8, 2014 at 7.00pm
To find out more, CLICK HERE:
Local contact number: 01273 772277
Or visit their branch at Dubarry House, Newtown Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 6AE, entrance in Newtown Road open daily from 10am-10pm.
Samaritans is available round the clock, every single day of the year. They provide a safe place for anyone struggling to cope, whoever they are, however they feel, whatever life has done to them.
Telephone 08457 90 90 90 (UK) 1850 60 90 90 (ROI), Text: 07725 90 90 90, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find details of the nearest branch.
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