Download document: Helpline focus group - opportunity description
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We are developing a range of opportunities for people with lived experience to be involved in the work that we do.
This could involve working alongside us on specific projects, joining an advisory group, or becoming a Board Member.
If you have experience of suicidal thoughts, self-harm or you’ve lost someone to suicide, we’d like your help to shape the work we do. Complete our survey or sign up to a focus group:
What: Take part in an interview with a researcher from the University of Westminster about the role technology may play in suicide prevention in public spaces.
We want to find out how best to support people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts in public spaces and what role (if any) technology could play in this.
We will discuss surveillance technology (like smart CCTV), including what you think about the possible effectiveness and acceptability of these. We will ask you to share your experience with suicidal thoughts or attempts, though there is no pressure to talk about personal experiences, you can share thoughts on just the technology.
Read our information sheet to find out more.
Why: We want to hear a range of perspectives to help us develop an understanding of how surveillance technologies are perceived and what the possible effects may be. This will help us produce guidance for the use of technology in suicide prevention in public spaces.
Who: People with lived experience of suicidal thoughts/behaviours; People who care for or have lost some to suicide
Where: Phone call, a video call, in-person visit or something else - you can choose and we will try to accommodate this.
When: Dates to be arranged with you
Time/Time commitment: We anticipate that the interview will take around an hour. You may also wish to have a phone call before the interview to find out more about it, or afterwards to check in with how you found the experience.
Participants will be renumerated for their time with a £25 voucher
How: If you are interested in this research or have any questions please contact Beth Cliffe ([email protected]).
Deadline: 01.08.2025
Read our information sheet to find out more.
What: A focus group.
The group will be run by Samaritans staff, you will be asked about your experience of calling our Helpline, specifically the time before a volunteer answers your call.
Why: We are looking a ways to improve our waiting experience for callers to our national Helpline, as such we would like to understand people's experience of waiting for their call to be answered. We will discuss suggestions for how this could be improved, your feedback and suggestions will be used anonymously and will help us improve our service.
Who: People, who are over 18, who have called our helpline.
You will also need to feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and ideas in a group discussion, this can be spoken and/or via the chat function in zoom. Think about how you feel about this before expressing an interest.
Where: Online on Zoom – with or without your camera enabled
When: 26th June 4-6pm
Time/Time commitment: 2 hours
We are offering a £25 voucher as a thank you for taking part.
How: First read the opportunity description below for full details.
If you are still interested, please complete our expression of interest form where you will be asked information about yourself - https://forms.office.com/e/9BNWjehibc
Deadline: 13th June 2024
We will let you know if you have a place by 19th June.
765.6 kb - PDF
During 2023 people with lived experience influenced our Online Harms campaign, joined our Research Ethics Board, sat on interview panels and have been co-designing our first ever Lived experience Strategic plan.
When you take part, you’ll have the opportunity to influence Samaritans work first hand, learn new skills, connect with like minded people and support our mission to ensure fewer people die by suicide.
We will promote all current opportunities on this web page, if you can’t see anything it means we’re working on new projects. Check back soon as opportunities are added whenever possible.
We take data protection seriously, we will always explain how we will use and store your data for each opportunity.
You can read our organisational privacy statements here
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