Barclays announces a new charity partnership with Samaritans to help the charity continue to be there for people who are struggling to cope

Barclays has announced a new three-year partnership with Samaritans, a charity which provides emotional support to anyone struggling to cope. Samaritans is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with 201 branches across the UK and Ireland. The three-year strategic partnership will enable Samaritans to meet demand for its services and help reach those most at risk. Samaritans is there for anyone who is struggling to cope with how they are feeling, offering non-judgemental emotional support, through a listening service, including by phone, email, letter, face to face…

Read More

Samaritans launch new Media Guidelines

The sixth edition of Samaritans’ guidelines has been revised to reflect the significant changes within the media landscape and incorporate the latest research on the impact that portrayals of suicide and self-harm in the media have on suicide rates. Research published earlier this year showed that media reports of celebrity suicides are associated with a 13% increase in suicides in the following one-two months1. The same research also showed that when suicide methods were reported, the number of deaths in the population using the same method increased by 30%. While…

Read More

Real People, Real Stories launches with new research on men’s mental health during lockdown

Samaritans shares new research on how lockdown measures have affected men, as they launch their Real People, Real Stories campaign, supported by the rail industry. The charity surveyed almost 2,000 men aged 18 to 59 to find out how the pandemic restrictions have affected their mental health and support networks. 42% of the men questioned felt that the restrictions have had a negative impact on their mental health, with loneliness and/or isolation, anxiety, financial worries and separation from loved ones among their concerns. Despite some men saying that they find…

Read More

Samaritans launches ‘Samarathon’ to raise vital funds

Samaritans wants to motivate more people to get active to improve their mental wellbeing, rather than focus on a physical endurance challenge that requires participants to run 26.2 miles in one stretch. That’s why ‘Samarathon’ invites the nation to go at their own pace, take part this summer and raise money to help us be there for those struggling to cope. Cathy Shipton, who is well known for playing Duffy in the BBC’s medical drama series Casualty is taking part in the challenge, said: “I’m supporting Samaritans’ Samarathon 2020 because since the #stayhomesavelives advice was issued, l realise they’ll be…

Read More

Samaritans launches Feel Good Book Club to boost wellbeing during ‘shelf-isolation’

At a time when looking after our mental health and human connection is more important than ever, the Feel Good Book Club provides an opportunity for readers to chat over a cuppa and a good wellbeing book. Award-winning author and How to Fail podcast presenter, Elizabeth Day is supporting Samaritans’ Feel Good Book Club to get the public turning pages and chatting with like-minded book lovers from the comfort of their own home. Elizabeth loves getting lost in a good book and shares how reading provides an escape from the…

Read More