“You’re an evil genius and I would love to be your sidekick!”😈“You’re awesome that’s why you’re my BFF!”“You always help…
*Suicide Trigger alert*Deborah Harvey asked a beautiful question about what to do if you pass someone on a bridge who may…
“What do you do if someone calls and pretends they are taking their life, and you spend hours with them…
Everyone has buttons. 🔴 Are you aware of yours?Do you know what pushes those triggers or buttons?Are you aware of…
I hang out on Quora quite a bit. I find out so many things and answers to so many questions…
“You are transferring out of my team? Ah, perhaps it’s a good idea. You’re not good enough to be here.”…
I want to tell you that I see you. When you call us but you’re too terrified to speak… I…
Nervous. Excited. Worried. Keen. Terrified.Big feelings. The cohort of Samaritans volunteer were feeling a jumble of big emotions at their first training…
Ring Ring Ring“Hello Samaritans, can I help you?”*click* This is called a ‘snap’.It’s when our callers hang up as soon as…
Special days like today can bring a lot of pain to many people. I’ve just finished another shift at Samaritans and am…
What’s your shape? 📐🟥⭕ Does it fit the role you’re going for?Does it fit the idea of what your spouse/significant…
I’ve got a hacking cough and a sniffly nose. 🤧And I’m on another night duty. I’m not fit to be…
Hey, are you OK?I can’t think of a scarier question, especially when you’re feeling vulnerable. If I say I’m OK,…
When you feel overwhelmed with big feelings and dark thoughts, don’t keep it bottled up. These feelings and thoughts will…
Did you know that talking about #suicide can’t make someone want to do it? You cannot plant the seeds in someone’s head.…
I’m buzzing! 🐝It always feels amazing when I help get new Samaritans volunteers into my branch! ☺ We’ve just finished their training,…
It can be much harder to ward off dark thoughts now that the nights are longer. I just finished another…
The new volunteer was very nervous.Who would be at the other end of the line?What kind of call would he…
14 minutes.In 14 minutes, I went through a roller coaster of feelings across the spectrum of human emotions as I…
Some of us draw mind maps. 🕸Some draw elaborate flowers 🌼 and patterns.Some do origami and make little paper swans…
What do you do if you regularly get cussed at, verbally abused and harrassed, or treated badly?Usually, the correct answer…
*Trigger warning* One of the amazing things my charity does in terms of reducing suicide is by providing much needed…
“Why did you do that?”“How come you let that happen?” Judgemental accusation. “Why don’t you do this?”“Why don’t you think…
My heart is exploding with ❤We’ve just kicked off another training for a group of new #Samaritans volunteers. So many generosity in…
“What’s the point of listening if you don’t try to help?” “Getting into the hole? What for? Now you’re both…
Do you judge people?Yes you do.We all do. We are only human.But the crucial thing is, do we let that…
“We need to ask him why he keep saying he is suicidal, is he seeking attention or something?” “No, we…
Will we get more calls tonight?Will someone who is predisposed to raising their fists do so if their team loses?…
Sometimes the heaviest thing to carry is other people’s expectations. Unhappiness = reality – expectations In particular, many are saddled…
Do you know the difference between sympathy and empathy? #Samaritans explain it using a metaphor of how one would interact with…
“I just got laid off.” “Yeah I got laid off last year. It sucked. But then I started a business…
Everyone has a hot button. Mine gets triggered when I take a call and the subject hits close to home,…
I thought my heart would burst when I saw this message earlier! When I started posting about my life as…
People are afraid to approach someone they think is struggling, because What if they’re wrong?What if they say the wrong…
Sometimes it is easier to type than to talk. Tonight, I am on a webchat shift at Duty Station 3.Webchat…
Another night on shift. Apart from my rubbish way of splitting “Listening Ear” over two lines on my scrap paper,…
It’s late at night when I think of our callers, even when I’m not on duty. The #Samaritans hours of need are…
“OK, let’s sit with this problem, together.” How powerful is this statement? It says You’re not alone.I’m here.I’m listening.Talk to…
“I really don’t think I can take it anymore.”Her shoulder slumps. Your heart starts beating very fast and you don’t…
Here’s a tip if you’re worried about what to say when talking to someone who is struggling. It doesn’t matter…
Some people should never ever be allowed to be parents. There – I’ve said it. Those who want to adopt…
When things get quiet, sometimes we have no choice but to deal with our demons. That’s why people overwork, self…
Covid is brutal. I find so many of my friends and colleagues I’ve worked with in India grief stricken, having…
My good friend and fellow volunteer Jasvinder Singh (aka Jazz) is raising money for Samaritans and anyone who knows me, knows how very very…
It was a tough shift tonight. All I can say is – look out for people who might be hurting,…
My heart is so full this morning. 🤗 We’ve just finished training and welcomed 14 new volunteers to join the #Samaritans family…
There are a lot more (A) people than there are (B). (A) mindset can manifest itself in so many ways.…
Children are meant to be cherished.They are born innocent, and whole.And perfectly perfect just as they are. You do not…
Empathy vs Sympathy. It’s the difference between getting into the hole to be alongside someone, and standing outside the hole…
When I pick up the phone during my shift at Samaritans, my heart drops into the pit of my stomach…
Did you know that you can’t plant the seeds of suicide in someone’s head by asking them the question? Many…
I got stabbed yesterday.By a super efficient nurse called Isla.With a vaccine to fight evil people-killing/maiming virus called Corona. Technology…
I had been crying and I hadn’t slept much. I didn’t want to do it but yesterday, I was leading…
I’m about to start another nightshift at #Samaritans, and found that the littlest ninja has snuck yet another little friend to…
Nuance and context is so important.Nowhere more so, than when having an intensively emotional conversation about life and death, as…
When problem solving _IS_ a problem. 🤔 What? I hear you say. Many of us are wired to be problem…
It’s magical. When you are able to create and hold a safe space for someone to talk to you, to…
Just about to start my Samaritans night-shift. Daughter helpfully decorated my swag from #salesforce #nonprofitdreamin to get me through the…
Ugh. It’s so noisy.Phones going.Office humdrum.The open plan can be so noisy.How do I focus on work? Wait.Is that Sandy…
As a Samaritan’s volunteer, I listen to people every week as they share the difficulties they are going through in…
How do I fit all of my awesomeness, my amazingly sparkly disposition and outstandingly outstandingness into a 500 character biography?…
“Would anyone believe that you and me – both successful in our professional lives, have gone through abuse and sexual…
I was going to read the whole Encyclopædia Britannica from A to Z. I told Andrew, who was suffering from…
Agency. The control you have over your life, your work, your circumstance. There is a difference between what control you…
I had to leave the meeting room very quickly and walked into a vacant office. I shut the door and…
Hurt people, hurt people. Abusers were once abused. Sometimes. I don’t normally get angry, but incidents of domestic violence and…
My “happy wall”. It was the wall of my home office where my lovely husband had put up a large…
“Why are you doing this? You’re not making any money out of giving away free courses.” I’ve also been coaching…
When you start a Role-Playing game like Dungeon & Dragons, you roll a dice to determine your attributes – strength,…
Was listening to Tim Ferriss’ podcast with Esther Perel this morning, and was struck by her learnings from Holocaust survivors…
Meaningful work and meaningful relationships. That’s what brings me joy. Regardless of what I’ve been doing, or how I’ve been…
Survivor’s guilt. “Be grateful you still have a job.” “Are you seriously moaning about your work stress?!” “I can’t believe…
Today marks the tragic anniversary of the death of Robin Williams, who committed suicide in 2014. There are still many…
When having high standards doesn’t work. One of the biggest pivot moments of my life came when I decided to…
In human relationships, there are 5 types of human responses. 1. Instructive – deciding what the other person needs, e.g.…
“The Happiness of your Life depends on the quality of your thoughts.” Marcus Aurelius was the last of the Five…
Volunteers for charities like Samaritans are considered key workers, and we will continue to provide the service at this time…
Was running an errand with ninja #2 in the rain this morning, and we passed a homeless man, drenched in…
Kindness at Christmas. Will it continue throughout the year? I’m volunteering at Crisis for Christmas, as a Samaritan and it…
Tomorrow I start my 48 hr shift as a Samaritan volunteer with Crisis for Christmas. I am so incredibly fortunate…