DEAL: who are Samaritans?

20 minutes

Create a safe and positive learning environment by agreeing ground rules for the session.

You could invite a Samaritans volunteer from your local branch in to support this session. Contact the schools team for more details.

Danny film (Youtube)

Activity

1. Show Samaritans information slides or use the handouts and explain what Samaritans is and what they do.
2. Play the ‘Danny’ film and ask students to discuss Danny’s story and his message.
3. What do they think about what he has to say? How do they feel about that? Do they agree? Why do they think it helped Danny?
4. Ask the class to discuss in pairs how they feel about calling Samaritans and how they might do this. What would they want to know about a helpline before considering using it? If the students have any questions they can do further research about Samaritans at samaritans.org
5. The class could prepare some questions to ask a branch volunteer if they are able to visit. Extend this activity by asking students to research different helplines and reporting back to the class what they have found.

Key message

Sometimes just being listened to can help someone to feel better

Reflection

Do I think differently about using a helpline?

Links and Learning Journeys

This session links to: Open questions | Building resilience | Finding a way forward | Talking about depression | Self-harm myths and facts

It is also part of 2 suggested learning journeys:

Learning journey: coping: Ups and downs of the day | My support network | Self-harm myths and facts | Supporting a friend | Open questions (short) | Coping with changes | Who are Samaritans?

Learning journey: my emotional health: Ups and downs of the day | Talking about depression | Expressing feelings (short) | Talking helps it’s hard to say (short) | Finding a way forward | Positive thinking | Who are Samaritans?

Make sure young people know what support is available and how to access this support.