Samaritans Cymru are featured charity for Forest
Samaritans Cymru is Swansea City’s featured charity for this Saturday’s fixture against Nottingham Forest.
The aim is to encourage supporters to talk if things are getting on top of them, to act more compassionately and become better listeners.
Following on from World Suicide Prevention Day – which is today – Samaritans will be on hand to provide supporters with information about their services and provide emotional support.
Data recently released by the Office for National Statistics shows there were 5,821 suicides registered in the UK in 2017, with men accounting for three-quarters of all suicides.
In Wales, the suicide rate increased between 2016 and 2017, with 360 suicides reported.
Samaritans’ vision is that fewer people die by suicide. They support anyone who needs them, round the clock, 365 days a year, through their 201 branches across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
They offer people a safe place to talk any time they like, in their own way, about whatever is getting to them.
They also offer their service in Welsh through the Welsh Language Line which is open seven days a week. In Wales, they respond to a call for help every three minutes.
Samaritans Cymru has been working on a campaign which encourages people to act more compassionately.
Compassion can change and save lives. Samaritans want to encourage people to listen to the really important things their friends, family and colleagues need to tell them, and to actually devote some time and attention to being better listeners. When people feel listened to, it can save a life.
Become a better listener with Samaritans’ listening tips:
Show you care
Focus on the other person, make eye contact, put away your phone.
It may take time and several attempts before a person is ready to open up.
Use open questions that need more than a yes/no answer. Then follow up with questions like “Tell me more”.
Check you’ve understood, but don’t interrupt or offer a solution.
Don’t be put off by a negative response and, most importantly, don’t feel you have to fill a silence.
Find out more about Samaritans Listening Tips at Samaritans.org/SHUSH.
The Samaritans Cymru van will be situated opposite the ticket office prior to kick-off.
Samaritans is available 24/7, 365 days of the year, to listen and offer confidential support when things are getting to you. Please call 116 123 (this number is FREE and won’t show up on your phone bill) or call the Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (This number is free to call - please visit samaritans.org/wales for opening hours). You can also email jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find details of the nearest branch.
