Reading the real-life stories of Samaritan volunteers can be a very inspiring experience, and shows how people can get the strength to improve their mental health and, consequently their lives.
It takes a strong and honest person to look into themselves and be able to understand that no one is an island and we all need at times on our lives to seek out help and support. Their are no weaknesses in tears and emotions. They are the foundations of solid steps on the way to recovery.
The Samaritans have put together some of the stories of the journeys taken by some of their volunteers in their struggles with mental health and the successes they have had to live their lives through their individual struggles.
John Lennon said, "Living is just a state of mind" and asked what he wanted to be when he leaves school; he said "To be happy"!
Wise words from a man who faced his demons of mental health struggles throughout his short life.
So, now we can read the wise words of others who have done the same journey, and grown to know themselves and to help others on their way:
Paul was a gang member in his youth, and is now in his forties. He explains that he wanted to give back to his community and was looking at different organisations and then came across the Samaritans. He soon realised they just listen to people. Because I can get into certain places and talk to certain people who trust him, he uses those Samaritans skills to talk to them and find out exactly what's going on in their life. Then they can find out there's different options for themselves so that they don't need to carry the gun, they don't need to do certain things.
Paul said: "Growing up, I wouldn't want to open up to anybody. But now I would. Before I was a Samaritan, I would've thought opening up is a weakness, but it's more of a strength to ask for help when you need help. Definitely."
Another wise person featured is Sarah.
She called Samaritans countless times over the years during her struggles with mental ill health. She credits the helpline for bringing her back from the brink and says it stopped her from taking her own life.
Her story includes her success as an artist for 22 years, creating vibrant oil paintings of toys, sweets, food — everything kitsch basically. Her art is studied in schools all over the world which she says is her proudest achievement. She did the album cover for Kaiser Chiefs in 2012, and I was a guest judge on Britain’s Best Young Artist on CBBC in 2021 – that was an amazing experience.
Her world fell apart when she lost her Dad to cancer in 2005 and had she'd also just been through the breakdown of a long-term relationship. Consequently she went into a very severe mental health episode, struggling with depression and psychosis. That was when she first started ringing Samaritans. Her story highlights the significant impact of trauma through the loss of her father and the breakup of her relationship, compounded by the onset of mental health issues, and how these experiences affected her relationships, stability, and sense of self. The shift in diagnosis from major depressive disorder to bipolar type 2, and the psychotic episodes, further illustrate the profound challenges she had to face.
Sarah's story is one of hope and of seeking to explore, discuss, and share particular aspects of her struggles in her life.
She turned to the Samaritans for help and support as a result of her mental health self-awareness, and through them got the help to develope personal coping mechanisms, and to address the impact of bipolar disorder; and the fact .
She wants people to know that her mental ill health has massively shaped her life. It was really brutal at times, but she survived and now just wants other people going through a hard time to know that they can recover.
Sarah said: "Having that compassion, that non-judgement from the volunteers at Samaritans who would give me a chance to talk and listen to what I was going through, how hard I was finding life and how hopeless I was feeling. Having that comforting voice at the end of the phone was everything."
You can read more wise words from people who have learned to face their demons and mental health issues, and were able to climb out of the depths of despair with the help of the wise and supportive members of their communities; on the Samaritans "Stories of Hope" pages of their website.
But the greatest inspiration comes from the strength they had in asking for help and support and remembering:
