Samaritans are braced for a busy Christmas (From Swindon Advertiser)

Samaritans are braced for a busy Christmas

2:00pm Thursday 24th December 2009 in

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THE SAMARITANS are expecting a surge in calls for help this Christmas as people struggle to cope with the effects of the recession.

Workers at the centre on Curtis Street said they expect more people than in previous years to turn to the support charity.

Volunteer Tara Pritchard, from Lechlade, who will be working the Christmas Day evening shift, said money troubles were adding to people’s usual Christmas worries.

She said: “It is a big concern for people.

“It’s simply another pressure if there are other areas in your life that are difficult already, your relationship or your health, if you are worrying about money that’s when people feel they are no longer able to cope.”

Mrs Pritchard said, although it was difficult to quantify as some calls redirect to the central call centre, call numbers were definitely up this year.

Samaritans offer confidential, non-judgemental emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.

Over the festive period around 30 to 40 volunteers will give up their free time to man the Swindon Samaritans phoneline.

The branch operates two phone lines over Christmas for people who are distressed and need someone to talk to.

They also offer a face to face service.

The Swindon phoneline is designed to be answered 24 hours a day every day.

If there is no-one manning the phone or the line is busy the caller will still be directed through to the national call centre.

Mrs Pritchard, who has been volunteering for Samaritans for the last six years, said Christmas was a particularly difficult time for people, particularly the bereaved or lonely.

“At Christmas we do take time to get in touch with members of the family,” she said.

“There can be a feeling of ‘I’ve got people around me’, but then they go away and you are back to where you were alone until next Christmas.”

New Year can be equally difficult as people tend to reminisce and see others having a good time which can make people feel lonelier, she said.

Mrs Pritchard said although sometimes she does encounter very distressing stories, the volunteers are given training so they can cope better with this and not dwell on it too much.

She said often volunteers are surprised to find they are enjoying the work.

“People are letting you into a part of their life that they haven’t told anybody about and they’re trusting you with that,” she said.

“You can hear the difference in somebody’s voice from the beginning of the call to the end.

“They have had a chance to download all the things inside them – it’s a relief for them to talk it through even if you think I have just said very little.

“The important thing is that we’re there.”

Swindon Samaritans will be recruiting new volunteers in January and February.

You can ring the Samaritans on 01793 537373.

Alternatively you can visit the website www.samaritans.org or call the central number 08457 90 90 90.