The festive season will see a rise in Samaritans’calls from isolated and lonely people. While many people enjoy getting together with family or friends, Christmas is a time when those alone feel even more left out.
Samaritans will take a call every six seconds this Christmas and New Year.Samaritans is here for anyone who feels they need emotional support at any time of the day or night. It ‘s a difficult time, especially for those who have lost someone close, for the elderly living alone, and for people living far away from their own families, including those working here from abroad.
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Christmas is also a ‘time for giving’ – and Samaritans expects that calls to the charity about debt worries rise significantly at Christmas time as people try their best to provide their families with the best they can – and are often tempted beyond their means.
Renowned TV money saving expert Martin Lewis said: “Sadly, Christmas has become a consumer festival, and shops and adverts pump out a ‘spend, spend, spend’ message. This puts many into debt, and leaves those with less cash feeling worried that they can’t give their family every last dream present. “Therefore many ask ‘How do I have a great Christmas on the cheap?’ Actually it’s more important to ask yourself ‘What can I afford to spend this Christmas?’ - and then plan your activities around that. Christmas is just one day, and it’s far more important to have a financially fit New Year.
“For people experiencing severe debts already, the one thing I’ve never heard of is a debt case that isn’t solvable, somehow. No matter how bad you think your case is, there’s a path. Samaritans can help with how you feel, then once you’re feeling ready there are some great non-profit debt counselling agencies who can take you step-by-step through dealing with your problems. Give the Consumer Credit Counselling Service or Citizens Advice Bureau a call too. If you’re worried about telling your partner, speak to these people first, then you can take your partner a solution, rather than a problem.”
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. Its 17,000 volunteers offer confidential, non-judgemental support to everybody, everywhere in the UK and Ireland.
Samaritans has a third party referral system – if anyone has concerns that they know someone who might need emotional support they can contact Samaritans and as long as they give their details, volunteers will make contact with the person to see if they would like our support. This would, as usual, be done confidentially without any ‘report’ being made back to the initial caller.
Rebecca Seedhouse, Samaritans Deputy Director of Fundraising and External Relations 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 and the sooner you make contact, the better,” is the message of this year’s Samaritans’ Winter Campaign, just launched to the advertising industry. “
Last year, 92% of contacts to Samaritans were by phone – a total 2.4 million calls in all. In 2006, as for every day of every year, the lines are open 24/7. This season, Samaritans expects more calls and emails 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
Email jo@samaritans.org
Write Chris, PO Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA
Drop in to your local branch – we have 202 around the UK and Ireland
Website www.samaritans.org
Samaritans’ Six Suggestions for Reducing Christmas and New Year Stress
 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, or whatever you prefer for exercise.
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.
If you can, take time out for yourself. Escape the festive frenzy by having 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.
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 17,000 trained volunteers and is entirely dependent on voluntary support.
December 2006 |
