Samaritans

We're excited to announce our new partnership with Central Co-op, which launched last week on #WorldMentalHealthDay.   The enthusiasm and excitement from the team to get involved in different areas of our work has been fantastic, including volunteering, campaigning, fundraising, and connecting more people to support.    What makes this partnership special is that Central Co-op and Samaritans are united by shared values:    💚 human connection is at the heart of everything we do 🏘️ we are there for anyone who needs us in our communities 💬 we believe we can empower others through the power of listening    Shoppers can now support Samaritans by donating in stores, helping us be there 24/7 for anyone who needs us. Read more about the launch here: https://lnkd.in/gJbiziV3

Yesterday, today and forever. Mental health is with us 24/7 and so is Samaritans for listening and Coopah for movement 🧡💚 #coopahcares

Tomorrow morning Anjeli will be getting up before sunrise, alongside her friends Michelle and David, to take on a 5k Dawn Walk. Here’s why 👇 “I struggle with my mental health, particularly during autumn and winter, with less daylight affecting my mood. I signed up to Dawn Walk to support Samaritans, but also to keep me motivated to make the most of the early morning sun. "I try to give back where I can as poor mental health and suicidal thoughts are such common experiences. Many people struggle to talk about it and get the support they need. This is where Samaritans have become a lifeline. It’s wonderful seeing the work they do, particularly in showing that talking about suicide saves lives. As much as this walk is about raising funds, it’s also about raising awareness and being part of important conversations. "To anyone having a tough time, even though it might not feel like it right now, you aren’t alone. Please reach out - to your GP, to people you trust, to Samaritans. Support is available.” Michelle and David also shared why they’re taking on Dawn Walk 🌅 “Mental health is not linear and there are times in all our journeys where we need support. I’m passionate about Samaritans' work as being there when people are feeling most alone is so important.” - Michelle (middle) “I’ve admired Samaritans and their vital work for a long time. I feel very proud to be doing the walk alongside two passionate advocates for mental health. Time to get out in nature and see the new dawn.” - David (right) Good luck to everyone who’s taken on Dawn Walk this week. We think you’re all incredible 💚

Read this important piece from our CEO Julie Bentley in the Big Issue to find out why we’re calling on the Government to make sure financial support and advice is built into their plans to prevent lives lost to suicide 👇 https://bit.ly/40k8b07

We can keep the conversation going all year round 💪 Keep talking Keep listening Keep reaching out Keep sharing your stories Keep sharing our number on 116 123

Meet Declan: a Scottish ambulance call handler, doing extraordinary things in his everyday role. “Being that voice on the other end of the phone is a huge responsibility and I take it very seriously. The most important thing that anybody who is struggling needs to hear is that it’s ok to feel the way they're feeling.” We’re shining a light on Declan’s story this World Mental Health Day, and the lifeline he is for so many, offering calm and care in people’s toughest moments. “I've never worked a shift where I've not taken a mental health call. My role has helped me realise the volume of people that struggle with their mental health. When I was going through it myself, I thought I was a minority, and that it wasn't normal to feel the way I was feeling. It turns out that so many people go through it.” The Scottish Ambulance Service decided to join Samaritans Training and Engagement Programmes (STEP) after feedback from their team that there was no specialised training for handling mental health calls, which were also increasing in volume. “What I really took away from the training was how to communicate with callers. The focus was on how to validate their feelings without saying that you know how they feel." “It has made conversations more open with colleagues when it comes to mental health. You’re going to have a handful of calls that you will remember for the rest of your life, and it’s important to be able to discuss those with colleagues." “Samaritans helped us open that conversation. I would really encourage people to do STEP training with Samaritans. It teaches you how to fully listen, so you understand what someone is saying and can communicate to them that you understand. I’ve always wanted to make a difference, and I feel that I can do that now.” Thank you so much to Declan and Scottish Ambulance Service for helping us share this story. We’re beyond proud our training was able to help make an impact on you and on the work you do. 💚 Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4h0t9qm If you want to learn more about how STEP can help your teams have more supportive and effective conversations, please contact us. It doesn’t matter what your team does, we’d love to hear from you. Find out more: https://bit.ly/3aA4whN

So many of us spend so much of our time at work and it can have a big impact on how we're feeling. Which is why it’s so important that we’re able to have open and honest conversations about mental health at work.     This World Mental Health Day, we want to help de-stigmatise talking about mental health in the workplace by encouraging people to spot the signs when someone might be struggling. Often listening and giving people the opportunity to express how they feel can make a big difference and could help them open up and go on to get the support they need.   We all know it’s important to reach out and check in, but we don’t always know how. At Samaritans, we believe that everyone can learn the skills to have conversations that can change and even save lives. Samaritans Training and Engagement Programmes (STEP) gives people the tools and confidence to step up, step in and support others.   If you think your workplace could benefit from Samaritans’ skills and knowledge from over 70 years of listening and providing emotional support, find out more: https://bit.ly/3aA4whN

It’s #WorldMentalHealthDay tomorrow and we want you to know that whatever you’re going through right now, we see you and we’re here for you. 💚 Talk to us on 116 123 📱

We asked you what mental health tips you would give to someone starting university. Swipe through the images below to see some of your responses. 👉 If you know someone that’s just moved for university, or is starting soon, share this post with them so that they know support is always available. 💚

If there's something on your mind, you can always talk to us about it. 📱 116 123