Kind ear only a phone call away
Sometimes picking up the phone and having someone listen can make a huge difference during a tough time.
No-one understands this more than the volunteers at the Samaritans 24-hour helpline, as they take calls from people struggling with depression or contemplating suicide.
Next month, the helpline is holding its annual appeal and volunteers like Isadore Campbell are asking people for their help to keep the phonelines running.
‘‘Many times, people have had personal experiences with suicide.’’
For Campbell, that came when her husband committed suicide 16 years ago, when their daughter was 7.
In 2015, she felt ready and strong enough to volunteer for the Samaritans, helping prevent other families from going through her grief. ‘‘It had been quite a tough journey for me,’’ she said.
She works shifts on the phone, talking and offering a kind ear to people calling in.
‘‘I wanted to help people who felt like they had nobody else they could talk to, to let them know that they are not alone, and that they may not believe it, but they won’t always feel this way,’’ she said.
More than 30,000 calls come into the Samaritans each year and funds are needed to keep the helpline service running.
Campbell said people called in for many reasons – they could be struggling with a relationship breakup, with their studies, have mental health issues, depression or anxiety.
The Samaritans helpline is staffed by volunteers who receive extensive training on how to listen and help people over the phone.
Volunteer Lorna has been with the Samaritans for 38 years and said all she and her colleagues really did was take the time to listen to people.
The organisation receives no government funding and relies on help from the community to keep running.
On August 10 and 11, the Samaritans will be on the streets of Wellington, as well as around Coastlands in Paraparaumu and Queensgate in Lower Hutt, for the organisation’s annual street appeal. Donations will go towards volunteer training and keeping the 24-hour helpline running.
To donate to the Samaritans, keep an eye out for collectors during the appeal, or donate $3 by texting HOPE to 5785 or at samaritans.org.nz/donate.
To find someone to talk to at the Samaritans, you can call 0800 726 666.