CRISIS SERVICES
Whatever you're dealing with, you don't have to face it alone.
24 - HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE
Samaritans’ hotline offers a space where you can be yourself without pretense. It’s a place where you can focus on what’s going on with you and express your concerns without the intrusion of unwanted advice or judgments.
Completely Confidential
Anonymous
Available 24/7
Free of Charge
Non-judgemental Support
A safe place to turn in times of crisis.
Reaching out for help can feel like a big step, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, scared or or like nobody really gets it.
It can be even more challenging when you’re unsure if you can openly share your feelings and what you’re going through.
Life can be hard, and we can’t change that, but we can be there so you don’t have to face it alone.
The hotline is designed to offer a safe environment where you can openly discuss your thoughts and feelings. The service is completely confidential and anonymous ensuring that when you have the courage to call, you can trust Samaritans.
Why do people call the hotline?
People call Samaritans for all sorts of reasons, as unique as each individual on the other end of the line. From a bad day and heartache to financial strain, loss, overwhelm, or struggles with suicidal thoughts and self-harming behavior (and everything in between.)
Whatever your reason, Samaritans is here.
Samaritans’ Resource Hub
Samaritans’ Resource Hub is a free to use and comprehensive online platform offering mental health and suicide prevention resources. The includes targeted support + vital information for both professionals + the public alike.
With its regularly updated content, Samaritans’ Resource Hub focuses on culturally sensitive + inclusive content.
This helps to ensure that specific populations, including kids, teens, LGBTQ+, elderly, BIPOC, + AAPI communities, can access relevant + timely mental health/ suicide prevention resources, that focuses on their unique needs.
Hotline FAQ
What does anonymous + completely confidential mean?
Samaritans is committed to ensuring caller privacy and we have stringent policies regarding both anonymity and confidentiality.
Anonymous: At Samaritans we prioritize each caller’s autonomy. Samaritans’ hotline does not use caller ID or trace calls. We do not have access to a caller’s information (including names, phone numbers and address/ location) unless a caller chooses to share that information. This policy of absolute anonymity ensures that no action will be taken without a caller’s consent (including dispatching police/EMS.)
Completely Confidential: All information shared by callers during conversations is strictly confidential and kept within the organization. Samaritans will never disclose caller information to any outside party without a caller’s explicit consent. This includes name, phone numbers and address/ location.
These policies are designed to create a safe and trusting environment for individuals seeking support, without the fear of their personal information being shared or used without their permission. These assurances are especially important for for those who are new to seeking support and/ or have reservations about sharing personal information.
Please note: Samaritans maintains confidentiality even after a caller’s death, but it is important be aware that our contact information may appear on your mobile service provider’s invoice.
What happens when I call?
Calling the hotline
Your call will be answered by a compassionate Samaritans’ volunteer. All volunteers complete an extensive, professional training process.The volunteer will listen to you and explore your thoughts and concerns. They may also ask questions to help you to delve deeper into how you’re feeling.
Samaritans’ role is not to offer advice or opinions. We provide a space where you can feel safe to open up and truly be heard.At Samaritans we understand that it can be especially difficult to open up and talk about sensitive topics like suicide. Our volunteers are trained to handle these discussions with compassion and empathy.
Please note that as part of our protocol, the volunteer you are conversing with will ask about suicidal thoughts during your conversation, regardless of your initial reason for reaching out.
Do I have to be suicidal to call?
No, you don’t have to be suicidal to call Samaritans. While our completely confidential and anonymous hotline responds to people who are suicidal and in crisis, the service also provides free emotional support 24/7.
Whether you’re having a bad day, dealing with a broken heart, coping with a mental of physical health condition, dealing with depression, grieving a loss, or any other challenge, give us a call. Our caring volunteers are ready to listen without judgment, no matter the reason you’re reaching out.
Will my call be recorded?
No, your call will not be recorded. Samaritans values your privacy and maintains a strict policy of not recording any calls. Our commitment to anonymity and confidentiality ensures that your experience remains personal and private. See Samaritans’ confidentiality policy to learn more.
Is the hotline really free?
Yes, Samaritans’ hotline is provided at no charge. We are committed to ensuring that support is accessible to everyone who needs it. However, please note that we cannot accept collect calls. Additionally, while our hotline itself is free, standard fees tied to your own mobile carrier or service provider may apply.
Samaritans affiliated with any religion?
No, despite its name, Samaritans is a completely non-religious organization.
Samaritans’ approach to helping is centered around offering non-judgmental support and empathetic listening, a process we call befriending.
All Samaritans volunteers are trained to provide support based on our befriending philosophy. Volunteers will not discuss or impose any of their personal and/ or religious beliefs during a call.
So why is it called Samaritans?
The organization got its name “Samaritans” somewhat by accident, after the Daily Mirror called the service “Telephone Good Samaritan” not long after it was started in 1953 by Rev Chad Varah and his secretary, Vivan Prosser. They had set up the world’s first hotline dedicated to suicide prevention. Shortly after it started, Varah noticed that volunteers, offering this befriending support were incredibly effective—sometimes surpassed that of professional counseling.
This approach, rooted in the kindness and dedication of volunteers, is the the cornerstone of Samaritans’ support services. And Varah’s initial observation on volunteer efficacy has since been validated by peer-reviewed research.
Samaritans has grown to over 400 centers in 40 countries, each adapting the foundational befriending philosophy to their local context and needs. Together, these branches form Befrienders Worldwide and make up the world’s oldest and largest network dedicated to suicide prevention.
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The Samaritans of New York, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to the fullest extent of the law. EIN 13-3164464