You help us be there round the clock
Your Spring 2016 newsletter
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Meet the Schools team
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Boost you r mood
016 April 2
Dear Supporter,
With spring just around the corner, it’s time you received a copy of our latest newsletter. This issue focuses on the work of our amazing volunteers who give their time so generously to support people who are struggling to cope. I know first-hand the difference Samaritans volunteers can make as countless thank you letters arrive here on a weekly basis. I thought you’d like to hear from Karen Harvey who manages our incredible work with young people with schools. Also, as I enjoy exercise and understand what benefits staying active can have on emotional well-being, I’ve made sure we’ve included an interesting article on the subject.
Hear from
eers p3 our volunt
Boost your mood
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I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your amazing support. With very best wishes,
Join our 2016 National Walk p13
Jayne Johnson Supporter Care Manager
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Cover: Illustration © Kristina&Co/CreativeMarket. Photo © michaeljung/stock.adobe.com Inside: Illustrations © Kristina&Co and © Pavel Korzhenko/CreativeMarket.com. Photo © anetlanda/stock.adobe.com
Welcome
24/7 We're here round the clock
Hear from our volunteers
D
id you know that there are over 21,000 Samaritans volunteers? They stretch to cover the whole of the UK and ROI, and are from a range of backgrounds. They have one thing in common, they’re fantastic listeners. Here we’d like to introduce you to three amazing volunteers – Katie, David and John.
Join our team amazing ers te of volun how Find out 6 on page
Katie Katie has been a listening volunteer with Samaritans since 2012. Away from Central London Samaritans branch, Katie is an actress and is also starting a company that provides workshops focussing on gender. I’ve been working as an actor for the past 7 years. Much of my career has been spent on the road, touring the country with various productions. At the same time, I worked on a piece called ‘Beachy Head’. I was playing the wife of a man who takes his life by jumping off Beachy Head. One of the scenes recreates a phone call that my husband makes to Samaritans before he jumps. I’d been aware of Samaritans from the advertising at London Victoria station. But this play gave me an insight into the actual service that Samaritans provides.
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When I got back to London after the tour, I headed down to an information session at Central London Samaritans branch. I completed my training at the beginning of 2012 and managed to work my shifts round touring for a while. I found,
“ I found, and continue to find, my fellow volunteers a totally awesome and inspiring group of people and I never fail to be surprised by the breadth of backgrounds that bring people to volunteer here.” Spring 2016
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and continue to find, my fellow volunteers a totally awesome and inspiring group of people and I never fail to be surprised by the breadth of backgrounds that bring people to volunteer here. People managing jobs, families, hobbies, and indeed their own personal ups and downs.
RSPCA. I became a Samaritans volunteer in 2008, during Daniel’s illness. I think it’s important to support people going through difficult times, not least because it could be any of us at other times. Some of the best Samaritans volunteers have been callers themselves – they can truly empathise.
While completing shifts at Samaritans, I’ve been balancing paid work, studies and setting up my own consultancy company. It turned out that I’m far better at managing my time when I have too much on than when I have all the time in the world. Volunteering at Samaritans provides a much needed regularity to my otherwise irregular career. I wouldn’t be without it.
As my son Daniel lay dying of cancer on the 16th floor of University College Hospital and as the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approached, I would fantasise about a plane crashing into the hospital, taking us both out of this world and all its suffering. I did not want to live if Daniel was not going to live.
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David from North West Surrey branch talks about his son Daniel and the importance of hope in difficult times.
I have written a book about Daniel’s cancer journey, ”Daniel, my Son”. Samaritans features a lot, as I continued to do duties where possible. Daniel was 17, rich of talent and full of dreams, when diagnosed with bone cancer all over his body. In pain and facing horrific treatment, his chances were extremely poor.
I am a lawyer in the voluntary sector, part-time judge and a former Chair of the
But he got on with his life. Surrounded by love, he studied Classics at Oxford,
David
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played with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, line-judged at Wimbledon. He was chosen to carry the Olympic Torch. He inspired others without realising it. Amidst many light-hearted moments, the book tells how we scoured the world looking for solutions and the battles to secure treatment and diagnostic tests. My experience taught me about humankind’s overriding need for hope. Samaritans callers may not always articulate it, but I suspect that they, too, are often searching for hope.
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You can find more information about the book Daniel, my Son, Splendid Books publishers, on the website: www.danielmyson.com
John John has been awarded an MBE for his services to Samaritans in Southport where he has been a volunteer since 1976. He’s also a painter who donates the proceeds from his paintings to the branch funds. I was more than a little surprised and delighted to be awarded the MBE for services in my local community.
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In 1976 my Rotary Club organised its first Game and Country Fayre to raise funds to finance a proposed local branch of Samaritans. I attended a launch meeting held in a church hall, when I became a Samaritans Volunteer. Over the last 40 years I have greatly appreciated the many friendships formed by working together for a common purpose. We’re a varied bunch of all ages and types which I think is a particularly good aspect of the experience. My hobby for many years is water colour landscape painting, and I’ve been delighted that Samaritans and other local charities have benefited from the proceeds.
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Here’s what some of our volunteers have to say about their experience with Samaritans:
“No matter what sort of week I’ve had, it’s a lovely feeling to give time to people who need us it’s why we all joined, after all.” “ Such a wide variety of people from all walks of life become Samaritans.” “It’s humbling and rewarding to be able to help in some small way by being there for people who need us.” Spring 2016
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Join our amazing team of volunteers As you probably know we wouldn’t be able to run our lifesaving support without our great volunteers. Anyone who is interested in people, is open-minded and willing to learn could train as a Samaritans volunteer.
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Get in touch! We’ll invite you to an information session at your local branch so that you can chat to us to find out more.
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Fill out our simple application form.
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We will talk to you informally and explore what made you want to volunteer and any concerns you have.
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We’ll ask you to a come to selection session at our local branch. We’ll get to know you and you’ll learn a bit more about us. There can be some differences in this selection process, depending on the branch.
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The selection team in the branch will then decide if you will go on to train to be a volunteer.
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We’ll talk to you about the decision. You’ll also need to decide if volunteering with Samaritans is right for you.
GET IN TOUCH 03705 62 72 82* (UK) 1890 200 091* (ROI) volunteering@samaritans.org samaritans.org/volunteer-us Samaritans Volunteering Department The Upper Mill, Kingston Road, Ewell Surrey KT17 2AF *See our website for latest call charges
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w If you kno ht ig m o h anyone w ted, s e r e be int ss this please pa m on to the
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Deaths by suicide in the UK : 2014 *
268 people
4,630
1,492
men
12% decrease since 2013 Scotland
696 people
women
15% decrease since 2013
Age group with the highest suicide rate: 45– 59 years
Northern Ireland
England Wales
247 people
4,882 people
37% decrease since 2013
2% increase since 2013
23.9
7.3
per 100,000
per 100,000 per 100,000
*Total number of deaths for the UK does not equal the sum of the constituent nations. This is due to ONS including the deaths of non-residents in the total figure but not in regional breakdown of deaths in England and Wales.
Latest suicide statistics 6,122 people died by suicide in 2014 in the UK .
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Source: ONS February 2016. Percentage change based on suicide rates per 100,000. Exact figures provided for clarity.
ew statistics released in February 2016, show that suicide rates fell by 2% in the UK between 2013 and 2014.
This equated to 120 fewer people dying by suicide in 2014 compared to the previous year. Firstly, and most importantly, any decrease – however small – in the number of people dying by suicide is to be welcomed. But today’s overall pattern masks different trends in men and women, across different parts of the UK. It’s difficult to comprehend the devastation that the 6,122 deaths by suicide will have caused, and will continue to cause. Unlike other major public health problems like cancer and coronary heart disease, suicide is most common in people of working age. In 2014, for both men and women the highest suicide rates were for those aged 45-59 years. And unlike cancer or heart disease, many people still find suicide difficult to talk about. We, at Samaritans, believe that encouraging people to talk more openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings – whether to a friend, family member, doctor, counsellor or us – will help. Spring 2016
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Meet the team
In this section we’d like to tell you about another area of Samaritans’ work.
Meet Karen Harvey who manages Samaritans’ lifesaving work in schools and colleges around the UK. Q What does your work involve? Step service and DEAL (Developing Emotional Awareness and Listening) resources.
The loss of a life through suicide is a tragedy. But alongside the impact on family and loved ones, the suicide of a young person can have a widespread and long-term effect on their friends, classmates, and the wider school community too. Those left behind after a suicide often experience difficult feelings they may never have had before, and they may need the support that Samaritans is able to provide. It’s essential that those affected receive expert help as soon as possible. Our trained Step by Step volunteers offer advice, guidance and support to schools and colleges after a young person or staff-member has taken their own life. They work with teachers to help support students, so they can cope and move forward. From tackling issues that many people find difficult to discuss, to preventing the very real risk of copycat suicides – our Step by Step service makes an incredible difference. 8
Around 600 young people aged between 10 and 24 die by suicide in the UK every year.
Illustration: © Vítek Prchal/CreativeMarket.com. Photo: © michaeljung/stock.adobe.com
A: My work focusses on three areas: school talks, our Step by
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While Step by Step is a response service to a suspected suicide, DEAL is a proactive resource that aims to help prevent young people getting to the point of crisis. Our carefully developed resources help young people to understand the challenges they face, and develop skills to be able to cope with them. We also introduce young people to the support that Samaritans offers – so that they know, whatever happens in life, we’ll be there to help them.
Q Why is your role important? A: Nobody likes to think about a death
in school. Yet suicide is a leading cause of death for young people in the UK and ROI. Around 600 young people aged between 10 and 24 die by suicide in the UK every year. Schools and colleges play an important role in reducing the likelihood of copycat behaviour and helping in recovery by
preparing and responding to the situation properly. We respond to every incident we hear about to offer support. Samaritans volunteers visited over 400 schools in 2015, talking to over 37,600 young people, raising awareness of emotional health.
Q Why are young people more at risk and how does Samaritans help them? A: Research shows that many young people have negative attitudes towards mental health difficulties among peers and avoid seeking help with their emotional problems. Young people often deal with personal mental health problems in a variety of ways such as bottling them up, sleeping, or drinking alcohol. Intervention through education can increase empathy, develop an understanding as to how emotional difficulties develop and why Spring 2016
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What do you particularly like Q about your job? I am passionate about working with young people and know how important it is to reach out as early as possible, to help them understand that they can cope, there is help available and that they are never on their own. I promote Samaritans school talks and DEAL, to help raise awareness of our support and promote emotional health and well-being in schools and colleges across the Nations. This involves
supporting our wonderful volunteers who carry out the essential work with schools and colleges, making sure they have the resources and information they need to do their work effectively. Part of my role is also spending time talking to partners and other organisations who work with schools, to see how we can work together in the best interest of young people as well as keeping myself up to date with best practice and current research. Responding to an incident is an extremely sad part of my work but I know that the support Samaritans offers to a school community when a tragedy happens is greatly valued and makes such a difference. We are often told how School Leadership teams could not have coped if we had not been there. I am honoured to be a part of this work.
Samaritans volunteers visited over 400 schools in 2015, talking to over 37,600 young people, raising awareness of emotional health. 10
Photo: Š michaeljung/stock.adobe.com
some people think that life is not worth living. Education helps people become less prejudiced and reduces stigma around help-seeking behaviour, encouraging more young people to get the help they need.
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Boost Illustration: © 3lines/CreativeMarket.com. Photo: © anetlanda/stock.adobe.com
your mood
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he fact that physical activity is good for our health is not breaking news. Everyone knows that regular exercise will help you remain in good shape for years to come.
But did you know that working out can help improve not just your physical fitness, but also your mental health too? Recent studies suggest that physical well-being is inextricably linked to mental well-being and staying physically active helps to maintain and improve mental health. Evidence shows that exercise can also help protect people against depression and anxiety. How is this possible?
Stay active wit h Samaritan s See page 1 4 for details
Physical activity is thought to cause chemical changes in the brain, which can help to positively change your mood. When we exercise our body releases endorphins – one of our ‘happiness hormones’. Being active can also boost your self-esteem, self-control and ability to face a challenge.* Don’t worry, because being active doesn’t mean you have to work out for hours in the gym or run marathons if this isn’t your cup of tea. Any physical activity that you enjoy can be beneficial. Next time you think about taking the bus remember that walking could have a positive impact on your mental health! *Ashish et all. (2006) Exercise for Mental health. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry.; 8(2): 106.
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Fundraising update The majority of the charity’s income is raised from fundraising activities. Funds raised from individual supporters account for over 38% of all our income whilst donations left in Wills are our second biggest source of income. Your support helps us keep branches open for those who need us round the clock. With your help we’ll be able to expand and keep up with developing technologies, making sure that whenever and however someone chooses to make a call for help, it’ll never go unanswered. On the chart below you can see where our income comes from and to the right what we have achieved thanks to these funds.
3.9% 0.4% 4.6% 5.0% 5.8%
38.4%
8.7%
Individuals x
38.4%
Legacies
22.6%
x Public body grants
10.6%
Partnerships x
8.7%
Local branch contributions
5.8%
Other grants
5.0%
Training and x conferences
4.6%
Corporate x donations
3.9%
Other income
0.4%
x
10.6%
22.6%
x
Figures from Samaritans Annual Report 14/15
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What we achieved in 2014/15...
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We developed relationships with all key social media platforms including Google, Facebook, Twitter and also SIRI on Apple products to work on the development of suicide prevention tools online. Our volunteers freely gave around 5.5 million hours of their time to support callers.
We negotiated with telecoms companies to make our 116 123 Freecall service financially sustainable. Anyone in the UK and ROI can call us for free at any time and it won’t appear on their phone bill. The new free-to-call number will enable more people who may be struggling to cope to access the vital service.
We trained a total of 10,000 rail industry staff through the Network Rail training programme to reduce suicide on the railways.
Our volunteers spoke to over 17,000 young people in schools, and colleges about emotional health and the importance of talking and seeking help.
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To encourage you to take care of your mental and physical health we’d like to invite you to take part in Samaritans’ National Walk in Cornwall this June. You can choose between three distances depending on your ability and enjoy breath-taking coastal scenery and stunning paths deep in the Cornish countryside. If you’re interested in taking part in other Samaritans events, please visit our website for more information.
Register now!
samaritans.org/support-us/raise-money-through- events-and-challenges
By coast and countryside
Walk and help us Join us for our National for Samaritans ds fun ded nee ch mu e rais nwall Location Penzance Cor 24, 15 and 10 miles ks wal ular circ 3 Distance in touch with us For more information get 16@gmail.com samaritansnationalwalk20 all rnw /co samaritans.org
L AT TRURO
CORNWAL d and Wales no. 262105
A charity registered in Englan
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(Cornwall at Truro).
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Stay active with Samaritans
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HELP US TO
HELP OTHERS
Over time telephone technology has developed rapidly and the phones we’re using today don’t look anything like the first machine that was designed 140 years ago. Nevertheless the idea of an emotional support helpline hasn’t changed and is needed now more than ever. Together we need to make sure that every call is answered.
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Please donate today.
T A BIG thank you
hank you so much for supporting us and your commitment to Samaritans. We wouldn’t be able to provide our services round the clock without your generosity.
Our aim is that fewer people die by suicide – through compassionate, timely support we offer a safe place for people to find their own way through difficult times. That’s why Samaritans need to always be here, day or night, both at crisis point, and long before that.
Together we can make sure no call is left unanswered. Spring 2016
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