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We are Samaritans

Tuesday 31 October 2023

35 min read

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Chapter 2: We are Samaritans

Our vision is that fewer people die by suicide.

Natasha, Samaritans volunteer

Every 10 seconds, we answer a call for help. We’re here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you.

Samaritans is here for anyone who’s struggling to cope. We listen, without judgement or pressure, and offer people and communities support in times of need. Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy. That’s why we’re working round the clock to reach more people and make suicide prevention a priority.

Samaritans helps people find ways to cope and the skills to be there for others. We’re not just for moments of crisis, we take action to prevent the crisis. We use the power of listening to spark meaningful human connection, and encourage others to do the same.

Samaritans is a charity working across the UK and Ireland and it’s your donations that fund our life-saving work, and your support that helps make it possible.

Together we can make change that saves lives.

About Samaritans

  • We have over 200 Samaritans branches and locations across the UK and Ireland.
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion guides the way we work and behave.
  • Our research and policy work drives change that helps save lives.
  • We work in prisons, schools, hospitals and on the rail network to support people going through difficult times and train others to do the same.
  • Our work is shaped by people with lived experience of suicidal feelings, self-harm or bereavement.
  • Samaritans is a charity and our work is only possible thanks to amazing supporters like you.
  • We support people by phone, email, online chat, letter or face to face.
  • Samaritans' helpline is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

Our priorities

In Samaritans’ 70 years of listening, the people we support have always been at the very heart of everything we do. Our strategy reflects this, as we have built on the lived experience of people who have been affected by suicide and self-harm to develop our strategic priorities and principles.

In this report, you’ll see how, in 2022/23, we worked towards our goals in the five priority areas set out in our 2022-2027 strategy:

Make sure anyone who needs us can access our support.

Reach more people to let them know we’re here.

Make our voice heard at a national, regional and local level for maximum impact.

Increase our capacity to become one team of valued, diverse, skilled people.

Build meaningful relationships with our supporters to ensure our sustainability.

Our work this year has also been guided by our strategic principles, which are the foundation of how we work and behave:

  • Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
  • Personal experience
  • Safety and quality
  • Evidence-based
  • Vocal and visible
  • Innovation and technology
  • Environmental responsibility
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About Samaritans

What we do at Samaritans

Samaritans is a unique charity dedicated to reducing feelings of isolation and disconnection that can lead to suicide.

Our policy and research

Our research and policy work drives change that helps save more lives.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

To genuinely address the causes of suicide and self-harm, we must take more practical action to challenge discrimination and injustice, working hand in hand with people affected by both.

Need support? Call 116 123 to speak to a Samaritan or

view other ways to get in touch