Mean Samaritan 😔

River

Upset about something and spoke to Samaritan but they were really insensitive and ended chat on me saying “well the issue will be fixed tomorrow”

eylah

sry you had that experience unfortunately i can relate as i had someone similar. but you can report the samaritan who was not nice to you bc you deserve to be supported & cared abt. here if you need to talk

River

@eylah they didn’t give me there name

independent_

I don’t suppose Samaritans track chats like they do calls. I know with the service I worked for each convo had it’s own unique number so staff and supervisors could find them on the system if there was ever an issue, but that would rely on them having info about you, which they wouldn’t with a webchat.

All that said I’m really sorry they were mean to you. No one should have to experience that.

Past User

hey @Rose113 (this might be helpful for you too @eylah & @independent_ ?) but samaritans actually can track web chats! all you need to do is give them the date that the chat happened and some key words that you used in the chat so they can locate it and email that to feedback@samaritans.org - i hope that helps

i know from my experience using their webchat that it does tend to be VERY unhelpful, it’s concerning how awful some of the webchat volunteers have been… tw// suicide i had used their webchat when i was feel really suicidal (this was a few months ago, i am currently safe), i had the person tell me “you wouldn’t actually do it though” which annoyed me so much as how do they know that? they said a few other dismissive and invalidating things too and i then told them how they made me feel and they said “i was just trying to get your attention” - i was literally engaging with the chat anyways so i don’t know what that was about, but even so, there are much more appropriate ways to get someone’s attention, dismissing and invaliding someone is NOT how to get their attention !!!

i hope you’re ok @Rose113

shannon_164

hey @Rose113 🙂

i’m really sorry you had that experience with the samaritans, you didn’t deserve that. it’s already difficult to simply just reach out, so i’m really proud of you for that, but when you’re reaching out for support and then don’t feel heard or validated, i know how deflating that can feel.

it’s understandable that you feel upset over that, your feelings are important and so so valid, and you deserve to be treated with empathy and care!

i know how damaging bad experiences can be, but i really hope that it doesn’t put you off reaching out in the future for the support that you very much deserve.

i’m always here for you to listen or help however i can - you’re never alone! you’ve got this @Rose113 - forever proud of you

Katie12

really sorry that that happened to you! you did such an amazing thing by reaching out and did not deserve what then happened! i hope you are doing okay

Laura_tigger82

That sounds really difficult @Rose113. Even if situations are going to be fixed, that does not take away from how you are feeling in the moment. You were really brave to reach out to Samaritans when you were struggling and this response sounds really invalidating. How are you feeling this weekend?