Samaritans are here for you if you need help this Christmas

Struggling at Christmas? Samaritans can help

When Stephanie looks at the photographs from Christmas 2015 she was smiling - but she was far from happy.

That Christmas Eve things had all got too much and she tried to take her life.

“I woke up the next day feeling very unwell, but I got dressed and went to visit my family for Christmas,” said Stephanie, 33. “I became good at putting on a front.”

Stephanie, a celebrity manicurist to the stars, who works with Little Mix, Leona Lewis and Disney, continued: “I look back at the pictures and I’m smiling, but I wasn’t ok at all. That feeling built up and spilled over into the new year.

“I didn’t know who to speak to, so one night I called Samaritans and let everything out. I remember feeling embarrassed and it took me a long time to get everything out.

“I am so thankful to that volunteer. He saved my life that night. I realised I didn’t want to die. I just didn’t want to hurt anymore.”

Need help at Christmas? You are not alone

Stephanie was not alone; Samaritans expects more than 250,000 calls for help during the festive season.

For many it can be a time of despair - triggered by various factors.

New figures from Samaritans reveal that caller concerns about family have risen for the fifth year in a row.

Up until November this year, family worries have made up 34 per cent of emotional support contacts with the charity across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Mental health/illness is holding steady as the top overall concern, with isolation and loneliness ranking third, followed by relationship problems.

The charity’s Christmas campaign seeks to ensure listening volunteers are on-hand to respond to people calling for help.

Ian, who works as a documentary producer, knew there was a place he could turn to when everywhere else was closed.

“There was a Christmas a long time ago where I felt quite down during that period,” said Ian, 55. “My partner at the time wasn’t openly out to his family and wanted to go home, meaning I spent Christmas alone.

“On Christmas Eve, I was extremely low. I rang Samaritans and that phone call got me through what was a very dark time.

“Christmas is such an emotive time – families, being together… and there I was on my own. The call was so helpful for me in that moment and during the festive period.

“Then, in 2009, there was a day where everything got on top of me. I was feeling suicidal. I was working in the centre of London and there is a Samaritans branch there, I went there on my way home. I knew Samaritans was a non-judgemental space.

“At a time where I didn’t feel like I could even talk to my partner – I needed someone I didn’t know to just sit and let me feel vulnerable and Samaritans were there.