New report highlights Athlone Samaritans’ 'exceptional contribution' on its 30th anniversary
The Samaritans Ireland Impact Report for 2022 which was launched recently by Minister Joe O’Brien highlighted the “exceptional contribution” that Athlone and Midlands Samaritans has made to the community.
Athlone and Midlands Samaritans were also honoured on their 30th anniversary by Westmeath County Council last year. The branch still has 13 volunteers involved who started the branch in 1992.
Volunteers from Athlone Samaritans attended the launch, where they met several local politicians including Minister Peter Burke, Senator Paul Daly, Deputy Joe Flaherty, Deputy Carol Nolan, Senator Aisling Dolan, Deputy Claire Kerrane, Deputy Brendan Smith and Senator Pauline O’Reilly.
Volunteer Branch Director, Marie Moran, of Athlone and Midlands Samaritans thanked all the local representatives who took the time to meet volunteers following the launch. She said: “The rise in calls answered by volunteers shows the continued need for our services and the impact they are making in providing emotional support to those in distress. We are focused on being there when people need us most and Athlone and Midlands Samaritans answered 23,000 calls in 2022. It has been a challenging time, but we are proud to say that Samaritans successfully provided essential support to those in need, 24 hours a day”.
She continued: “Our volunteers remain at the heart of our service and we cannot thank them enough for their ongoing dedication to our callers. We are always looking for volunteers and urge anyone who would like to know more about volunteering with Samaritans to visit www.samaritans.ie/volunteer. Together we will continue to make a lasting impact and provide a lifeline to those in need.”
Calls to Samaritans’ helpline rose by more than 10% last year, with volunteers answering over 1,000 calls a day from people struggling to cope, according to the new Impact Report.
It showed the number of calls answered rose by 45,000 last year, with volunteers spending some 65,000 hours on the phone providing support to callers.
Samaritans is the only 24-hour emotional support helpline that covers the island of Ireland, with more than 2,000 volunteers in 21 branches nationwide. Three additional satellite branches have already opened or are scheduled to open this year.
Executive Director of Samaritans Ireland, Sarah O’Toole said: “It has been a challenging time, but we are proud to say that Samaritans successfully provided essential support to those in need, 24 hours a day.
“The rise in calls answered by volunteers shows the continued need for our services and the impact they are making in providing emotional support to those in distress. We are focused on being there when people need us most.
“Our volunteers remain at the heart of our service, and we cannot thank them enough for their ongoing dedication to our callers. We are always looking for volunteers and urge anyone who would like to know more about volunteering with Samaritans to visit www.samaritans.ie/volunteer.
“Together, we will continue to make a lasting impact and provide a lifeline to those in need.”
The report was launched during World Mental Health Month, which aims to raise awareness of mental health issues worldwide.
Speaking ahead of the launch of the Impact Report, Minister for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien, paid tribute to Samaritans volunteers, who are embedded in communities across Ireland.
He said: “I am delighted to launch the Impact Report, which shows volunteers answered 1,000 calls and emails every day, offering support to those living in isolation or struggling to cope, no matter where in the country they live.
“Samaritans volunteers are the backbone of the charity and are there for people 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even in the early hours of the morning. It is incredible that a volunteer-led charity is supporting others in need for over 60 years.”The 2022 Impact Report showed; Volunteers answered over half a million contacts, answering a call for help every 61 seconds, a call needing emotional support lasted an average 26 minutes, 4,500 calls were diverted to Samaritans from other helplines when they closed out of hours and over 18,000 calls were answered from inmates in Irish prisons. A total of 300 new volunteers completed training in 2022.
Actor and comedian Pat Shortt led celebrations on Samaritans Awareness Day last July to show Samaritans are available to everyone 24/7. Pat, an ambassador for Limerick and Tipperary Samaritans, appeared on Ireland AM on Virgin Media One before joining volunteers on a 7km walk in Limerick city. Almost 20 branches across the country organised 7km walks or outreach events on the day which included Athlone, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Ennis and Sligo. All of these events were held to emphasise the power of talking as part of our annual Talk to Us awareness campaign which takes place throughout July.
Samaritans urges anyone in need of support to call freephone 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie