Manchester

Recent News from Manchester & Salford Samaritans

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, 18th November 2023, also known as Survivor Day.

Recognising those affected, on International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is an event that recognises survivors of suicide loss so they can come together to find connection, understanding, and hope through their shared experience.

Also known as Survivor Day, International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day raises awareness of the importance of providing support to those affected by suicide.

Since being introduced by a Senator in the United States, International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day always falls on the Saturday before American Thanksgiving because the holidays can be a difficult time for suicide survivors.

On November 18th 2023, International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day will again recognise those affected by suicide.

If you are someone impacted by suicide and you’re having a difficult time, click here for more information https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/if-youre-having-difficult-time/

Stress Awareness Day 2nd November 2023

Highlighting the help available on Stress Awareness Day

Stress Awareness Day on November 2nd shows the ways stress can affect people and what you can do to manage your stress before it becomes a problem. Learn more.

Did you know?

At least 74% of us in the UK last year felt so stressed that we have felt unable to cope (Mental Health Foundation).

Stress Awareness Day has returned this year to highlight the ways that stress can affect people and what you can do to manage your stress.

Stress is a feeling caused by being under too much pressure, and it can be mental or emotional pressure. Your body responds physically to stress by releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.

While small amounts of stress can be beneficial as a motivator to take action or get tasks completed, a lot of stress can feel overwhelming, so it’s important to know how you can manage stress.

If you need to talk to a Samaritan to help manage your stress before it becomes a problem, https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

see previous news stories in our news archive

About Manchester & Salford Samaritans

The Manchester and Salford branch was founded in 1962 and our volunteers come from Manchester, Salford and the surrounding areas. Nearly 200 volunteers answer more than 120 callers every day, from our branch in Oxford Road, Manchester.

Samaritans volunteers are Listening Volunteers or Support Volunteers, working together to support callers, lead by Co Directors Gordon and Joan. Listening volunteers answer phones or emails, and Support Volunteers assist in Fund Raising, Publicity, Admin , IT, and Building maintenance.

The Samaritans vision is that fewer people die by suicide and the Samaritans are there for anyone who needs someone at a difficult time, by providing emotional support through telephone calls and emails. To contact the Samaritans, callers phone the Samaritans freephone number 116 123 or email [email protected]

Our volunteers are ordinary people who give their time freely to be there for our callers at times of need. We are all passionate about providing caller support, and also work hard to increase awareness of the Samaritans in our local communities. To do this, volunteers give talks, work in schools, prisons, workplaces and other organisations, work with the media, and work in partnership with organisations such as Network Rail. All our volunteers are unpaid.

Their are substantial costs to maintain and run our branch, such as premises, telephone, heating, lighting and other running costs, to support over 42,000 callers who contact us each year.

Branch Co-Directors, Gordon and Joan, say that local fund raising is critical to enable the branch to continue to provided such much needed support for callers.

We would welcome any donations, large or small and all will make a difference in helping the Manchester & Salford Samaritans continue to support our callers through difficult times. We appreciate and welcome all individual donations and donations from community fundraising events.

You can also donate via text from your mobile phone. Text MCRSAMS 5 to 70450 which will donate £5 to our branch. Substitute the 5 with any amount of your choice.

You can also click on the "Donate" link at the bottom of this page, which takes you to our "Just Giving Page", and any donations will be extremely welcome.

We would also welcome contact from individuals or organisations who may be interested in helping with fund raising, by emailing the branch at [email protected] or by writing to the Director, Manchester & Salford Samaritans, 72-74 Oxford Street, Manchester M15NH

Read about older branch news by clicking here Branch News.

Volunteers training, and branch expectations

New Listening Volunteers are trained in key Samaritans Listening Skills, then mentored and guided through the process of becoming a full Samaritans volunteer. In return, volunteers are expected to be available for all training and mentoring, and then expected to commit to regular weekly shifts.

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Working Outside The Branch In and around Manchester & Salford

Manchester & Salford Samaritans give talks, presentations and workshops to raise awareness of the Samaritans, including:

• Samaritans - Who we are what we do
• The Power Of Listening
• Wellbeing In The Workplace

Information Stands - We can set up an information stand at your event to raise awareness of Samaritans

Emotional Support - We can provide emotional support at an event that may be challenging for people. For example we provided listening volunteers in St Peter's Square after the Manchester Bombing and in the city centre a year later

We can offer"post-vention" support to organisations in the community, including schools, colleges and universities where they have experienced a suicide

National Campaigns - We promote national Samaritans campaigns such as Brew Monday, Small Talk Saves Lives and Real People Real Lives across Manchester and Salford.

Schools, Colleges and Universities - We regularly work in schools, colleages and universities offering sessions on emotional intelligence, listening skills and peer support

Local Events - we support local events such as the Pride March and Smarathon. If you would like Samaritans to attend your event, just let us know details

Working in HMP Manchester (Strangeways) and HMP Forrest Bank Prisons

Manchester Branch supports prisoners at both HMP Manchester (Strangeways) and HMP Forrest Bank through Listener Schemes. The Listener Scheme is a peer support scheme. We select, train and support prisoners to offer confidential emotional support to their fellow inmates

Please contact us if you would like us to come to your workplace, organisation, school, college or community group to offer any of these services by emailing [email protected] or by writing to Director, Manchester & Salford Samaritans, 72-74 Oxford Street, Manchester M15NH

Our privacy statement

At Samaritans, privacy is at the heart of what we do. We are committed to protecting your privacy and the personal information that we hold. Read our privacy statement here.

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