Samaritans Ireland’s Post

Next Wednesday will be the 28th Christmas Day that Valerie has spent answering calls to the Samaritans helpline: "Christmas Day can be an extra hard day for some people; all the consumerism of Christmas can really impact people living in poverty or people who are alone and have no family. It's also a time when people reflect more strongly on loss – for many callers, it's the first Christmas without someone they love. "I clearly remember a caller one Christmas Day asking me when I answered the phone what day it was. When I replied that it was Christmas Day, the caller was so relieved as she found the adverts relentless on the TV for the previous four weeks. She was so sick and tired of it, because it didn't reflect her Christmas, which was one of utter loneliness. We stayed on the phone for quite a while... She was so grateful to be having a conversation with another human. "Nothing comes between me and my duty to Samaritans on Christmas Day. My kids grew up with it, and even now, when they are grown up and married and have homes of their own, the question is always, 'What time are you in Samaritans on Christmas Day, Mam?'" 🎄 This Christmas Day, over 100 volunteers like Valerie will answer over 1,000 calls for help from callers around Ireland. That’s more than 1,000 times when people feel they have no one to turn to, so they turn to Samaritans. 💚 We're here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including Christmas Day. Call free, day or night, on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie