Resource Tag: SAMARITANS

The cultural & historical factors affecting suicide in Yugoslavia are discussed in the opening of this column. Differences in the rates of suicide in the various regions of Yugoslavia are summarized. The history of suicide intervention in Yugoslavia before 1991 is covered. The origin & operation of a Serbian volunteer organization called “Srce” (Heart) is […]

This manual prepares new volunteers for situations they are likely to encounter & promotes a heightened self-awareness of their own attitudes. Training sessions include: befriending, listening skills & face-to-face meetings; depression, mental illness & grief; suicide prevention & suicide bereavement; addictions & referrals; family violence & abuse; sexuality issues, sex callers, manipulative callers, unhelpable & […]

This article discusses the selection & training of lay volunteers, following the procedures widely used in Befrienders International centres.

This article from Befrienders International provides historical development of suicide prevention activities of The Samaritans in Hong Kong, reports on particular needs of the elderly & youth as Hong Kong moves closer to the 1997 transition to Communist rule, notes progress by China in recognizing the urgent need to offer support for those who are […]

This paper deals with the issue of how & when the professionals involved in suicide prevention need to help volunteers & members of the community to recognize the contribution they can give & to develop the confidence & the ability to befriend & to support the suicidal. (6 refs.)

This report on Society activities also provides statistics & analysis of suicide deaths in Hong Kong. Suicide rates dropped to 10.29/100,000 in 1993 from 12.65/100,000 in 1992. Data by age groups, by sex, suicide methods (50.9% jumped from a high place), & occupation are provided. Although suicides decreased in 1993, the Society caseload increased 14% […]

This presentation outlines a number of services that the Samaritans in the UK have developed to reach young people. Some of these services include: 1) Youth Outreach Team; 2) Youth Project Pack; & 3) mobile centres. The success of these initiatives is reflected in the number of contacts from people under 25 – a 28% […]

In this session, the authors reviewed socioeconomic factors which can effect precipitating & predisposing factors to suicide, especially in 3rd world countries. They then discussed the activities of various branches of Befrienders International, particulary those of the Samaritans USA.

This workshop report covered a business community outreach program designed by the Samaritans of Boston to promote a better understanding of depression & suicide in the context of a declining economic environment. Key structural points of this client-focussed marketing strategy are noted.

This presentation defines marketing & notes that marketing can give positive & much needed energy to nonprofit agencies while retaining & building on the integrity of the organization. By using a marketing approach, the Samaritans of Rhode Island increased the number of organization volunteers by 100% over a 2-year period. The steps involved in developing […]

This presentation describes the Lifeline Program instituted at a Rhode Island Correctional Institution in 1989. The program trains inmates as peer counselors who then become front-line volunteers who spot & befriend depressed & potentially suicidal inmates. The report discusses program goals, objectives, weekly meetings (includes a member of the Samaritans), the choosing of Lifeliners, their […]

This pamphlet describes the mission & activities of Befrienders International. One of the main questions about international organizations is if they can adapt to different cultures. Examples from Sri Lanka, Brazil, eastern Europe & the Former Soviet Union, Egypt & China are provided as illustration.

This article is the forerunner of a series which will introduce Befrienders International, a world wide organization for the development of volunteer action to prevent suicide. The series will examine the concept of befriending as an effective therapy for those in danger of taking their own lives.

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In this column the author discusses the use of lay people in suicide prevention. The author notes that this is based on the premise that they can fulfil a unique role and provide help of a different kind from that offered by professional medical or social workers. There is then a discussion of the interrelationship […]

This article is based on the World Suicide Prevention Gathering’s, Canada 1993 meeting. 15 participants from different cultural and geographic regions delivered papers on the problem of suicide and the provision of supportive rehabilitative services to persons at risk and to other affected persons in their countries, with a special focus on regional and national […]

This editorial briefly discusses whether or not the suicide rate actually has declined in towns where there is a Samaritan branch. The contradictory conclusions which arise from the various studies also raise issues about research methodologies in the medical & social sciences. (0 refs.)

Provides brief overviews of the types of services rendered by The Samaritans, a report on the membership & the treasurer’s & auditor’s reports for the 1990 fiscal year.

This package is not designed to be a self-learning package but is a resource for teachers to use during classroom instruction. The Pack contains 7 sections, 1) topic work; 2) talking points; 3) drama & role play (12 situations are presented); 4) creative writing & comprehension; 5) the future; 6) reading list; & 7) poetry […]

This book is written by the director of the Samaritans in London. He begins by providing a background on suicidal terms & theories, then discusses how to recognize suicidal tendencies & help suicidal people. The book contains hypothetical interviews with suicidal people, as well as information on various professional & voluntary agencies of care (Samaritans, […]

This paper describes a crisis hotline’s establishment of a befriending program to help long-term callers. These callers use the hotline’s resources and remain dependent on the hotline even though their situation is not improving. 8 callers were befriended in this study. 6 were suicidal. Counselors acted as models for the caller by holding them accountable […]

Describes a national random survey of British citizens aged 65 and over in order to find out what proportion of seniors know of the Samaritans and what proportion of them use the telephone to contact the Samaritans. From 583 completed interviews, it was concluded that those likeliest to commit suicide were least likely to know […]