The dedication of Samaritans Scotland’s volunteers has been celebrated at a parliamentary reception to mark the charity’s 70th anniversary.
Volunteers from all over Scotland, from Orkney to Selkirk, attended the function at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, November 29.
The event, hosted by Paul Sweeney MSP, Shadow Mental Health Minister, marked seven decades since Samaritans founder Chad Varah answered the first ever call to his helpline for people contemplating suicide.
Members of the Scottish Parliament and other invited guests heard from a range of speakers including Samaritans Scotland Executive Director, Neil Mathers; Samaritans Regional Director for Scotland, John Knight; and Samaritans Scotland Trustee, Amanda Millar.
Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Maree Todd MSP, also paid tribute to Samaritans volunteers past and present.
Adrienne Rennie, a Samaritans caller, spoke about the ‘life-changing’ impact of her conversation with a helpline volunteer in 2019.
Guests also had the opportunity to visit a number of information stalls on Samaritans’ work across the country, including its role as a Strategic Outcome Lead on Scotland’s suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together.
Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, said: “On the charity’s 70th anniversary, I pay tribute to the Samaritans for their longstanding and crucial role in supporting communities right across Scotland.
“The Scottish Government is proud to be working alongside them, and other valuable partners, to deliver our national suicide prevention strategy– Creating Hope Together.”
Paul Sweeney MSP, Shadow Mental Health Minister, said: “It was a real honour to host Samaritans in the Scottish Parliament to celebrate 70 years of lifesaving work. The support provided by Samaritans’ 1000 volunteers in Scotland has never been more important.
“Hearing from the incredibly brave Samaritans caller, Adrienne, truly drove home the incredible impact Samaritans volunteers have on people’s lives.
“As we approach the festive period, it is worth remembering that for many people it is often a period of isolation and greater mental health problems, and as they have been for the last 70 years, Samaritans will be there for these people.”
Neil Mathers, Executive Director of Samaritans Scotland, said: “In Scotland, we have almost 1,000 volunteers based in branches across the country, and it was wonderful to welcome some of them to the Scottish Parliament to celebrate the impact the dedication of Samaritans volunteers has had over the last 70 years.
“UK-wide, Samaritans’ 23,000 volunteers respond to a call for help every 10 seconds.
“I’d like to thank Paul Sweeney MSP for his continued support and hosting the event, and Maree Todd MSP for joining us and giving such an impassioned speech.
“I’d also like to commend Samaritans caller Adrienne for speaking so bravely about her experience of calling Samaritans and the effect that call with one of our volunteers has had on her life.”