Drogheda Samaritans to remain open over Christmas

Samaritans volunteers in Drogheda & North East are giving the gift of listening this Christmas by ensuring its services remain open for those most in need throughout the festive period.
Christmas can be a challenging time for some and that’s why Samaritans volunteers from Drogheda & North East branch are helping to keep the service running over the festivities - even on Christmas Day.
Almost 53,500 calls for help were answered by volunteers across Ireland last December, with 1,300 volunteers on duty throughout the month.
Michael Keelan will be one of thousands of volunteers answering the phones this Christmas and New Year.
He said: “If you’re feeling like it’s all too much, let someone know, don’t hide your feelings. Whether you’re on your own, or alone in a crowd, feeling lonely and isolated can be exacerbated at this time of year.
“You can always call Samaritans on freephone 116 123, text 087 260 9090, email jo@samaritans.ie or visit us on 3 Leyland Place, Stockwell Street, Drogheda. If you are having a good time at Christmas, make time to listen to others you may need support.”
Drogheda & North East branch is also calling on the public to support them on the Longest Night of the year, Friday 21st December, to remind people Samaritans are available during their darkest hours.
A Candlelit Vigil will be held at the front of St. Peter’s Church on West Street from 630pm to 930pm. 
“It’s really important we highlight that whatever people are going through, at whatever time of the day or night, we’re here to listen,” Michael Keelan added.
Cindy O’Shea, Samaritans Irish Regional Director, is a volunteer in the charity’s Cork branch and will be on duty over the Christmas period.
She said: “Christmas is a happy time for many, but for others it can be quite challenging. Bereavement, loneliness, relationship and family problems, depression, abuse, and drug and alcohol misuse can feature heavily throughout the festive break.
“Being at the end of the phone to support someone during their darkest hours, especially over Christmas, is an incredible feeling. It’s really important that people know someone is there for them if they are struggling through the day.”
This will be the 20th year Teresa Bell will volunteer for a Samaritans duty on Christmas Day.
The Athlone branch volunteer said whether someone is on their own, or surrounded by family, problems can crystallise over the festive period and trying to achieve the ‘perfect Christmas’ can bring extra pressure and strain.
She said: “There’s so much ‘happy clappy’ stuff for weeks in the run up to Christmas, especially on television, and it can be difficult when it’s not like that at home. People can be alone at Christmas, and sometimes that’s by choice, but for others they may be bereaved, separated or have fallen out with family and they find it difficult to get through the season. It’s very special to be there for someone on Christmas Day.”
Samaritans volunteer Mary Deery always volunteers at Christmas in the Derry branch – and  this year will be no different.
She said: “Until you've sat in a Samaritans phone room and taken those calls over Christmas, you have no idea how tough it can be for a lot of people. Some people assume Samaritans are just about suicide prevention, but there's so much more to what we do, so many issues we deal with on a daily basis. Christmas feels like a condensed version of that, people’s problems seem to be turned up a notch at this time of year, it can be tough, but it also makes it extremely rewarding. For me, not to be answering the phones over Christmas just isn't Christmas at all. The best present we can give someone is our time to listen.”
Samaritans is asking all of us to give the gift of listening this Christmas, by encouraging friends and family going through a difficult time to open up and know that it’s OK to not be OK, even at Christmas. To make it easier, the charity has produced a set of vouchers to download from the Samaritans website, offering time to listen as a present.  A pair of novelty socks won’t save a life but listening can make a huge difference.
You can download Samaritans’ Give The Gift of Listening vouchers for free at: http://www.samaritans.org/christmas2018.
You can also give a donation through your local branch or here to help ensure that Samaritans’ services are there for anyone who needs them this Christmas and every single day of the year.