Samaritans offer listening ear over Christmas

Volunteers at the local Exeter-based branch of Samaritans will be on duty across all of Christmas and New Year for anyone who needs someone to listen.

“We know that Christmas isn’t a happy time for everyone. Some people - particularly those on their own, and especially men - find the festive season very difficult” admits Helen Crossfield, director of Exeter, Mid and East Devon branch of Samaritans.

Samaritans volunteers will be available around the clock for anyone who needs to talk, in confidence, about whatever is causing them distress. That applies on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, as on every other day of the year.

“Even when surrounded by family and friends, people still feel isolated and worried. These feelings can be heightened by others being happy” explains Helen Crossfield.

Over Christmas someone in the UK contacts Samaritans every six seconds and over the last festive period the charity responded to almost 200,000 contacts nationwide.

This year, during November alone, the Exeter, Mid and East Devon Samaritans alone had 1,800 telephone calls from people in distress.

“It may be your first Christmas without your children because of a separation. Or you may be bereaved, or struggling with redundancy, or debt, your health, or relationships or family issues” explains Helen Crossfield

“It’s OK not to have a good time. No one needs to put on a brave face. People can talk to us by phone, on email or face to face” she says.

The contact details for Samaritans this Christmas are:

 -  116 123 this number is free to call and will not appear on a telephone bill;

 -  07725 909090 for SMS texts;

 -  jo@samaritans.org by email;

 -  see www.samaritans.org/exeter for details of the branch.