Snapshot: Community conversations

Samaritans Snapshot

Preventing suicide for 45 years

August 2019

" I am tremendously grateful that the text option for the crisis line exists! Calling via phone is not always possible. I felt heard and acknowledged, and that is really what I needed in order to go from feeling frantic and in crisis to feeling much more calm, in control, and able to look toward tomorrow." - Helpline texter

Mental health panel after Dear Evan Hansen performance

Following a performance of Dear Evan Hansen on July 28 , audience members were invited to stay for a panel discussion on topics like lifting the taboo of mental health through popular culture, and how modern families can talk about mental health. Dealing with themes like loneliness and depression, Dear Evan Hansen reminded us of the importance of our work and the power of connection. Our Executive Director, Steve Mongeau, moderated the panel, which included Congressman Joe Kennedy III and cast members Ben Levi Ross and Jessica Phillips . We are so proud to have been included in this important conversation.

Saturday, September 28th at DCR Artesani Park! R emember and celebrate our loved ones, reduce the stigma of suicide, and save lives through suicide prevention.

5K Team Captains share their stories

Team Team Wade

"When we arrived at Artesani Park, I was overwhelmed and shocked to see how many people had been touched by suicide. I felt a strong connection with the other runners and walkers. This connection was about more than our potentially shared grief. It seemed to be more about our shared desire to strengthen the conversation about mental health and suicide prevention, and our willingness to be vulnerable in public despite the various levels of pain that many were feeling that day."

Team BeCause

"Being dedicated to the cause of talking, answering, and asking questions about mental illness de-mystifies the lived reality of those dealing with it. It also helps to open eyes and hearts of those who may have previously not been as understanding or aware."

Read more 5K Team Captain stories

Delivering our workshops to first responders

This month, we had the great pleasure of presenting to the Abington Police Department! Along with folks from Riverside Trauma Center and Samaritans of Merrimack Valley, we spoke with officers about both suicide prevention and postvention for first responders. A few days later, we received encouraging remarks from the Chief:

"It was nothing short of spectacular and the instructors were truly phenomenal. The feedback that I received from our officers was excellent. Although we have attended other trainings and workshops regarding this subject, it has not even come remotely close to what your team gave us!"

Becoming a Helpline volunteer

Have you ever seen such a friendly bunch? Our newest class of Helpline volunteers are ready to tackle their learning shifts before answering calls and texts. Give them a warm welcome!

If you've considered becoming a volunteer but feel nervous or intimidated, check out our new blog from former Helpline volunteer, Alissa, pictured below. She shares all of the concerns she had before starting training, and how she learned to overcome those fears!

"Volunteering is not about your fears. It's about overcoming them for the good of giving back. Although it might take time, the incredible support you get - from training to your weekly shifts - will lessen your worries."

Read more from Alissa

Lace up your sneakers to save lives

Want to run the 2020 Boston Marathon? Applications for the Samaritans team are now open! Applicants will be evaluated based on their connection to Samaritans and suicide prevention, their running history and ability, and their fundraising plan. Applications are due September 3, so apply today!

Apply now to run

Looking for meaningful work?

We have open positions on our Crisis Services team! Check out the job descriptions on our Careers page to see if one of these roles suits you:

Volunteer Coordinator for Training
Overnight Helpline Coordinator

Apply for a job at Samaritans

Blue State Coffee supports Samaritans

Need a caffeine pick-me-up? Every six months, Blue State Coffee at 957 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston chooses four local nonprofit organizations to support based on in-store customer suggestions. S amaritans was selected for this cycle, running from July - December 2019! Each time a customer makes a purchase, they are given a token to vote for one of the non-profits. The more votes for Samaritans, the larger the donation!