Samaritans: Always Open

Some Christmas lights matter more than others.

A call every seven seconds is expected by Samaritans this Christmas & New Year.  As always, Samaritans is open throughout the Christmas period – Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day – just like every other day of the year.  They offer confidential, non-judgemental support to everybody, everywhere in the UK and Ireland .

Jeremy Payne, Samaritans Director, said:

“For some people the bright lights of Christmas can actually emphasise any problems they may have.  Seeing everyone else apparently having fun all around them can be really tough, especially if they are on their own, or even if they are with family and friends.”   

“People can contact Samaritans about a variety of emotional issues” is the message of  this year’s Samaritans’ Winter Campaign, just launched to the advertising industry.  Last year, 680,320 telephone calls were received; this year, as for every day of the year, the lines are open 24/7.  This Season, Samaritans expects more calls and e-mails than ever before and trained volunteers will be there to answer every one of them.

For 24 hour support contact Samaritans in five ways:

Telephone 08457 90 90 90 - UK

Telephone  1850 60 90 90 - Republic of Ireland

E-mail        jo@samaritans.org

Write          Chris, PO Box 9090 , Stirling , FK8 2SA

Drop in       to your local branch – we have 203 around the country

Website      www.samaritans.org

Samaritans’ suggestions for reducing Christmas and New Year Stress

·        Shop gently.  Try not to shop till you drop, leave it till the last minute or overspend. Family and friends will be just as pleased with a small or home made gift.

·        Check out your local shops.  Save time and energy by using local businesses - and help your local economy in the process.

·        Try not to use alcohol to calm your nerves at parties, you could end up feeling more stressed than relaxed.

·        Don’t feel pressured to always come up with sparkling conversation; being an attentive listener is just as important.

·        Try and avoid conflict by negotiating plans, giving everyone a say.

·        Be kind to yourself.  Try not to have unrealistic expectations and don’t worry if things don’t go completely according to plan.

·        Exercise away any festive stress with a brisk walk or a swim, and if there is a local sauna or steam room to relax in even better.

·        If you can, take time out for yourself.  Escape the festive frenzy by immersing yourself in a hot bath or putting your feet up with your favourite radio or tv programme.  Whatever you do to best to relax, try and make time to do it.

Across the UK , you can call Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (1850 60 90 90 in the Republic of Ireland ) for the price of a local call. You can also write to Samaritans at Chris, PO Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA, send an e-mail to jo@samaritans.org or if you are deaf or hard of hearing use the single national minicom number 08457 90 91 92 (1850 60 90 91 in the Republic of Ireland).

Samaritans is a registered charity, founded in 1953, which offers 24-hour confidential emotional support to anyone in emotional distress. Samaritans' vision is for a society where fewer people die by suicide because people are able to share feelings of emotional distress openly without fear of being judged. Samaritans believes that offering people the opportunity to be listened to in confidence, and accepted without prejudice, can alleviate despair and suicidal feelings. It is the aim of Samaritans to make emotional health a mainstream issue. The service is offered by 18,300 trained volunteers and is entirely dependent on voluntary support.

(14/12/05)