A Monthly Publication

 06:00  From an upstairs window, Malcolm could see the sun rise over the town. He and Angela looked tired. It was not surprising really. They were just coming to the end of a four-hour night duty for The Samaritans. Malcolm had taken a two-hour call in the early hours from a depressed young mother who could not sleep. She had lost a baby through cot death and now could not bear to close her eyes in case anything happened to her new-born baby. Fear and fatigue had given way to despair. Finally after talking to Malcolm she decided to return to bed and try to sleep.

Meanwhile, Angela had taken a series of silent calls. The phone would go, and when she picked it up, saying gently, “Hello, Samaritans. Can I help you?”. The person at the other end would not, or could not, speak.

Occasionally, Angela repeated that she was still listening and there was no hurry to speak. After long silences, the phone would go dead. She hoped that the caller would soon gain the courage to speak, perhaps to another volunteer later on, as she was now going straight to work, buying a takeaway breakfast on the way.

08:35 Martin, Chair of the Friends group who raise money to support the King’s Lynn Samaritans, calls in to pick up collecting tins, publicity materials and posters for a collection day outside one of the local supermarkets.

10:00  Dorothy, who has recently retired from her job as a schoolteacher, and now has more time to give to The Samaritans and Dave who is a young salesman currently between jobs, are in the Duty Room. They are ready to answer the phones and to receive emails from people who need emotional support to help them through a difficult time in their lives.

10:15 A man in his fifties calls at the Branch. He was made redundant last week but doesn’t know how to break it to his family. Each morning he leaves home and pretends to go to work. Today, instead of sitting in his car he has summoned up the courage to visit The Samaritans. He is very depressed and talks about feelings of uselessness and failure. He feels his whole life has crumbled. He weeps. Dorothy asks if he feels suicidal. “Yes”, he says,” I can’t believe I’m telling you this. It’s just such a relief to admit how black and hopeless things are......”

11:25 Upstairs, Dave and another volunteer, Jane, chat. She’s popped in to collect a video and some leaflets as she is on her way to do a talk at the local secondary school. Jane enjoys doing ‘outreach’ activities, going out and raising awareness of the service amongst groups at high risk of suicide. She will get a class of 14 year olds to talk about the importance of discussing feelings and to explore the difficult and taboo subject of suicide.

12:50 Marian, the Branch Director also drops in during her lunch hour. The Samaritan correspondence includes requests for speakers at meetings of Young Farmers and the Wl, a request from a student doing a project on the charity, a cheque for £300 from a local trust, latest training information from The Samaritans General Office and an anonymous letter which just said, “Thank you for being there”.

13:45  Carol calls in to pick up some publicity leaflets for the table in the entrance to the hospital. Two Samaritans will be sitting at the table all day talking to patients, staff and visitors publicising the work of the Samaritans and listening to those who want to share their feelings with them.

18:00, Sue and Sandra, a nurse and bank clerk, arrive to take over. There’s a call from Sally. She was in the class that Jane spoke to earlier that day. She wanted to speak to someone about her stepfather. She couldn’t tell her Mum and her mates wouldn’t understand.

19:10 In another room, Diane and her training team are preparing for a selection day. Held three times a year, it will be a chance to tell people what becoming a Samaritan volunteer really entails. Those that are selected to continue will embark, during the following weeks, on on a course of thorough training and supervised shifts. Those who decided that being a volunteer was not for them could still support the charity by helping in many other ways.

23:55 .It is the early night duty. The phones ring again and again.The room is quiet just the sound of hushed voices on the phones. The volunteers are busy concentrating, listening and answering emails. Pubs and clubs close, families and friends go home, and the night gets busier. Many go to sleep but for those left awake there are few people they can turn to for support. For someone distressed and having no one to talk to, a stranger who won’t judge them and who will treat everything they say in confidence, is a vital lifeline.

All Night  The phone rings. It rings again. And again. And again. Throughout the night. The Samaritans are always there to answer the call, every day and night.

The scenarios above are not real, but could very well have been. If you are over 17 years, and feel that you would be able to listen without judgement to others, who may be despairing and suicidal, please contact the King’s Lynn Samaritans to hear more about becoming a Samaritan Volunteer. Tel No: 01553761616