How do I know if the service provided by Samaritans works?
Samaritans cannot prove results in terms of lives improved or
saved. The confidential nature of the service means that when the
caller ends the conversation, we do not always know the
results. However, often people do contact us to thank us for being
a lifeline at their moment of distress.
A website survey for Samaritans in 2007 showed
the following:
- 77% of people who were suicidal at the time of contact say that
it helped them take a decision, on that occasion, not to die.
- 67% of people at risk of self-harm said they
had decided not to injure themselves.
- 70% of people felt that contact with Samaritans helped them
cope with the problems they were facing.
- Being in touch with Samaritans helped 63% of
people to feel less anxious and 65% to feel more understood.
- 38% of people are not talking to any other service provider
about the problems they contact Samaritans about
"It was helpful, every time I spoke to anybody
it helped relieve tension and frustration."
Samaritans caller
"By my phone call I gained a lot more
confidence to be able to lift my head up and try to carry on with
life for the sake of my children."
Samaritans caller
"I think ringing Samaritans gave me the
confidence in me. The fact that somebody understood, did not
criticise, did not palm me off, did not judge or advise- I mean
they never really advised me to do anything in particular, but gave
me back my confidence in me as a person. And that gave me the
confidence to go on."
Samaritans caller