A senior church leader wants parishes to back a new strategy to help prevent people from taking their own lives as the recession starts to bite.
The Archdeacon of Morgannwg, Christopher Smith, is calling on church members to put their weight behind Samaritans’ first strategy for Wales which was launched this week. The charity’s five-year plan aims to reduce the number of suicides each year by investing in volunteers and making people more aware of what help is available and how it can be reached. It hopes to work with community groups, such as parishes, to raise awareness of its work.
About 300 people commit suicide each year in Wales with the highest rates among men aged 25-50. Research shows that people who lose their jobs are twice as likely to take their own lives than those with jobs.
Samaritans was started in Wales in 1966 in a church in Cardiff. Today it has nine branches across the country and more than 550 volunteers, many of whom are church members.
The Archdeacon said, “From the beginning of its life in Wales, and in its origins in England, church members, both clergy and lay people, have been very closely involved in the work of Samaritans and continue today to support its work of offering confidential help to those who are distressed, despairing or suicidal. The launch of this strategy underlines the commitment of Samaritans to reach out to all communities in Wales to continue this work, and to ensure it meets the challenges that lie ahead in supporting people in times of emotional crisis.
“Samaritans is committed to working closely with the Welsh Assembly Government and a wide range of agencies across Wales and I know that church people will continue to work with them in promoting this new strategy.”
Simon Hatch, Samaritans’ director for Wales, said, “We will support those who contact us, actively raise awareness of our services, and communicate clearly the complex issues around emotional distress and suicide in Wales in order to see suicide figures decrease over coming years.”
Chief executive Catherine Johnstone said she expected a leap in demand for Samaritans’ services as a result of job losses and financial uncertainty. She said, “We have a role to play in supporting people who have never before faced potential worklessness and supporting people through the uncertainty of the next few years.”
The new strategy will focus on priority groups: those in suicide crisis; people supporting others in crisis; people who self-harm and people who have been affected by the suicide of another.
