Samaritans see huge rise in calls and emails during Covid pandemic
First founded in 1953, Samaritans was set up to provide emotional support to anyone who sought it. Their main aim has always been to prevent loss of life through suicide, by listening to those struggling to cope with their personal issues.
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic people’s lives have been thrown into turmoil, with international lockdowns being enforced all over the globe. It is no surprise that some have handled the stresses and strains brought on by Covid-19 better than others.
For those who have struggled, life during the pandemic has proved extremely difficult, with unprecedented restrictions having a damaging effect on their mental health.
The purpose of Samaritans is to offer confidential support to anyone who needs it, and when lockdown first gripped the nation back in March, the demand for their services reached an all-time high.
Many callers were locked down in toxic living environments where they were the victims of constant physical and emotional abuse. Others simply felt cut off from society, faced with spending countless weeks indoors alone.
Paul Tame, 54, who has worked as a listening volunteer for Samaritans for 30 years, said: ‘’Our volunteers are busy 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and this has not changed during the pandemic.
‘’We are currently providing emotional support over 7,000 times a day, and one in three calls are related to Covid-19, with people feeling anxious and distressed.
‘’We have seen a significant change in the number of calls for help we receive over this time, and our volunteers are telling us that there has been an increase in emails because callers are finding it difficult to talk on the phone in private during lockdown.
‘’We are continuing to hear about struggles with mental health, access to services, and the impact on people around basic needs such as food, housing and employment.
‘’Covid-19 and lockdown are exacerbating callers’ existing conditions — mainly anxiety, but also depression, OCD and others too.
“I speak to a variety of callers on a daily basis, and I just hope when I put the phone down that the person who has made contact feels supported, listened to and understood, ” added Paul.
Someone who has experienced the support Samaritans offer first-hand is 18-year-old Amy Smith*. Throughout lockdown Amy was unable to see her father due to the strict restrictions put in place by the Government.
Instead, she was stuck inside with her mother and stepfather, who she finds incredibly difficult to live with. Struggling to deal with this, Amy sought the help and support of Samaritans to get through this difficult time.
She said: “My parents got divorced five years ago, and before the pandemic I would go to my dad’s every other weekend.
“When we were locked down, I could not see my dad at all, and I was stuck inside with my mum and stepdad who barely even acknowledge I exist.
“I felt like I couldn’t talk to anyone about how I was feeling, so for the first time in my life I called Samaritans.
“They listened and really allowed me to open up which made me feel a lot better. Calling them was one of the best decisions I have ever made.”
During the height of the pandemic Samaritans also published a new contact number for front line NHS workers struggling with PTSD as a result of dealing with coronavirus. Many doctors and nurses worked for months without a break dealing with the huge volume of Covid-19 patients in need of hospital treatment.
The extremely intense working environment had a severe impact on many front-line workers’ mental health. Samaritans recognised this and introduced an exclusive phone number to offer emotional support. The number prioritised NHS workers in the queue of people waiting to talk to a volunteer.
Faith Williams, 55, who works as an NHS-line volunteer for Samaritans explained: “Being on the front line there are fears, there are anxieties, and there are lots of stresses and strains which people like you and I don’t have to think about.
“If you are a frontline medic, you may be worried about taking something home to your family and making your family ill, and that might be what is driving your concerns.
“Our main aim is to support NHS workers and give them the space to talk confidentially to someone.
“Everyone has their own problems in life and for many, Covid-19 magnifies these problems.”
With a second wave sweeping the nation and many local lockdowns now in place, Samaritans continue to offer their support to those who need it most.
The charity is expecting another surge in caller demand with new weekly restrictions continuing to disrupt people’s lives. However, there are thousands of devoted volunteers who are poised and ready, determined to help in any way they can.
Visit https://www.samaritans.org or call free on 116 123.
*Name has been changed to protect the interviewee’s anonymity.
