Volunteers at Samaritans of Scarborough are among 1,500 volunteers nationally answering calls for help over the Christmas weekend.
Across the country the Samaritans expect to answer around a quarter of a million phone calls over the festive season.
Libby Lorton-Gilbert is the director at Samaritans of Scarborough, she says Christmas can be a difficult time for many people.
So far throughout 2021 family worries have made up 34% of emotional support contacts with the charity across the UK and Republic of Ireland – a 26% increase (7 percentage points) over the past five years.
Mental health/illness is holding steady as the top overall concern at 46%, with isolation and loneliness ranking third at 28%, and relationship problems follows on 24%.
Volunteers from Samaritans of Scarborough are among the 15 hundred across the country providing their round-the-clock service to make sure there’s always someone available to listen to anyone who is feeling alone or struggling.
Libby Lorton-Gilbert says the charity has launched a national awareness campaign highlighting the work it's volunteers do.
One Christmas caller, who credits Samaritans with saving her life, has been chosen as the face of the charity’s latest festive campaign.
Stephanie, 33, phoned Samaritans regularly just after Christmas 2015 when she was really struggling.
“Christmas always felt like a particularly difficult time. One year on Christmas Eve, it all got too much and I tried to take my life. I woke up the next day feeling very unwell, but I got dressed and went to visit my family for Christmas. I became good at putting on a front.”
Stephanie, a celebrity manicurist to the stars who works with Little Mix, Leona Lewis and Disney continued:
“I look back at the pictures and I’m smiling, but I wasn’t OK at all. That feeling built up and spilled over into the New Year. I didn’t know who to speak to, so one night I called Samaritans and let everything out. I remember feeling embarrassed and it took me a long time to get everything out. I am so thankful to that volunteer. He saved my life that night. I realised I didn’t want to die. I just didn’t want to hurt anymore.”
Stephanie is now calling on the public to ‘Be A Samaritans Christmas Star’ this season.
To make a donation to Samaritans of Scarborough please visit samaritans.org/donate-christmas and select Samaritans of Scarborough at checkout. As little as £5 could enable Samaritans of Scarborough answer a call for help from somebody struggling this Christmas.
Anyone can contact Samaritans FREE any time from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit. This number won’t show up on your phone bill.
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