A
UK phone hotline for the
despairing.
According to the
divine Gritchka, they were founded by
Prebendary Chad Varah.
They always answer the phone after
three rings, as they believe this makes people feel neither
neglected nor
pounced-upon, and always with the same words. Their phone number is 08457 90 90 90 in the UK, or 1850 60 90 90 in the
Republic of
Ireland.
Online, they can be found at http://www.samaritans.co.uk, and
emailed at jo@samaritans.org. Emails are answered within 24 hours, by someone using the
pseudonym 'Jo'.
Samaritans are all
volunteers, and new ones are always needed. They are trained before taking on the job, and they are not allowed to give
advice. Their primary function is to
listen. At some point in every phone call, they are obliged to ask the caller if they are
suicidal.
The Samaritans are a registered
charity, number 219432.