Local resident Maggie Mehta MBE reflects on 45 years of voluntary service with Samaritans, dedicating her time, compassion and expertise to helping those in need
Some years ago, I took a career break from teaching as I had two young children. I wanted to do some volunteering and knew a little about Samaritans. A day duty a week and a monthly night duty seemed fine, so I joined. That was over 45 years ago and I am still volunteering.
It has been one of the most important and rewarding parts of my life, and I am one of over 20,000 volunteers across the UK and Ireland in one of 200 branches. Samaritans have had a presence in Redbridge for nearly 60 years, and there are 85 listening and support volunteers at our branch.
So, what do we do? We support people in distress or going through a difficult time, some of whom might be contemplating taking their own lives. Some have been suffering in silence for a long period. Those who call us have many issues, such as relationship problems, mental health challenges, bereavement and loneliness, to mention but a few.
Suicidal thoughts can be complex, frightening and confusing. If a caller needs someone to talk to, we listen. We won’t judge or tell them what to do, and we’re not afraid of going into difficult areas with them. Samaritans is the charity that prevents suicide through the power of human connection.
A Samaritan responds to a caller every 10 seconds, and in a typical month, 70,000 people contact us across the organisation. Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. February and March can be difficult months for many. Having started the New Year, things for some people can feel bleak as spring begins to arrive for others. We actively listen without judgement, in confidence and without giving advice, being empathetic and exploring their options. Many have no one else to talk to.
We don’t just answer the phone. We also go out to community events, such as the Wanstead Festival, where our gazebo and volunteers attract a lot of attention.
From my own experience, being in what seems like a bubble when everything else is closed in the early hours of the morning with someone who is thinking about suicide is a profound experience. One caller, who felt alone in the world and life not worth living, said at the end of a very long call that just by having a voice at the end of the line gave him the strength to carry on. He thanked me for respecting his feelings without saying things like “it will get better,” which would have been dismissive. He also said he felt able to contact us again if he needed to. I was left with a sense of calm and hope, something us volunteers feel after listening to and supporting callers.
For more information about volunteering, visit wnstd.com/samaritans
If you need someone to talk to, call the Samaritans for free on 116 123
