Are you thinking about becoming a Samaritan? What a wonderful thought to have. Having been a Samaritan for the past 8 years, I felt that sharing some of the joys, and some of the challenges, might be helpful. The easiest way to do this is to answer some of the most commonly asked questions.
How do we manage when talking to people that are attempting to take their own lives?
It is an amazing privilege and very humbling to talk to people that are in this situation. We are a listening service which many people need so badly for all sorts of different reasons. We don’t give advice or tell people what to do. We are there to help them explore their options and make their own decisions. We never know what happens to the callers as calls are confidential and we have no way of tracing them. But what we do know is that we have taken the time to listen and give comfort to someone at their worst of times
How do we stop becoming too emotionally involved?
This was the question that caused me greatest concern when I considered becoming a Samaritan. I can tell you that the training helps considerably. The fact that we rarely, if ever, talk to the same person twice also helps. You discuss calls at the end of a shift with a shift leader and are encouraged to leave all your thoughts at the door before going home. It works. And the support process in place for both new recruits and seasoned Samaritans is exceptional.
What training to I get to prepare me?
The training is second to none and will teach you to deal with anything you need to deal with as a Samaritan. It covers all the different types of calls we get. You’re trained to help people talk about their emotions, explore their feelings and look at their options. It’s the best and most thorough training I’ve done.
Anything else I need to know?
Samaritans in Yeovil are an amazing mixed bunch of people. All ages are here. You will make great friends and you can get involved in lots of different Samaritan projects if you want to. To sum up, being a Samaritan is a totally rewarding job. Humbling. A real privilege.