BRANCH HISTORY

The story of Samaritans in Portsmouth

1995 - 2006
In this period our work extended into Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham where we could support distressed patients attending the Accident & Emergency unit.  Although we no longer visit the A&E unit, the Hospital's Mental Health Team recognise how we can help people at a time of crisis, and now frequently ask us to contact and offer support to patients who have self-harmed.

Prisoners are at high risk of self-harm and suicide, and we started a special arrangement for our volunteers to go into the local prison to support both prisoners and staff.  This led to a scheme being developed in which we now train prisoners as "Listeners" to provide emotional support to their fellow prisoners.

In 2003 we joined the Samaritans national email service.  Many people prefer to communicate with us in this way, and find it easier to express their feelings in writing, and there is a high ratio of these callers who express suicidal thoughts.

2007
The need for our service never goes away, and we work hard to ensure that our helpline phones are always answered.  This means making sure that we have sufficient volunteer resources.  We aim to have a team of 100 active volunteers and we could always do with more.  Thanks to a dedicated team of trainers we run 3 courses a year for intakes of new volunteers.  These courses provide thorough preparation and have a reputation of being at least equal in quality to professional training. 

Society has changed over the years, and Samaritans has always endeavoured to adapt to the influences that this places on the lives of individuals who contact us when in personal crisis.  One thing has stayed the same though, and that is the Samaritans aim that every phone call to them gets an immediate much needed answer.  Latest statistics show that we answer over 30,000 calls in our Portsmouth Centre.  We never lose sight of the fact that behind every statistic is a human being.

Even now, as you read this, whatever the hour may be, anyone phoning our helpline 08457 90 90 90 will have their call answered.

No one need be alone with their distress.

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