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Give Suicide Prevention a Face with a Gift to Our Giving Grid  |
We're so excited to introduce a fun new way to support suicide prevention - The GivingGrid! Add a meaningful photo of your loved one, family, or community with a gift to Samaritans' GivingGrid, and help ensure Samaritans' lifesaving services remain available to all.
Our volunteers are here over Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve, and every other day to provide compassion to those in need via phone, text and online chat. We're so lucky to have over 300 dedicated volunteers to provide empathy 24/7, but we still need your help.
Please give generously and help provide 24/7 Helpline Support, Grief Support to those who have lost a loved one to suicide, and suicide prevention training to our community. A gift of any size will help prevent suicide. |
| Talk with Me: Former Samaritans Volunteer Creates Teen Mental Health PSAs |
After dealing with depression, anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and suicidal feelings for much of his life, Peter Cannon started to see improvements in his own struggle with mental health in his late teens. At Emerson College, Peter decided to use what he learned in his own struggles by focusing his senior capstone project on mental health. Wanting to learn more about mental health for both his project and himself, he began volunteering with us on the Helpline last January.
"The main thing I took away from Samaritans was that people call in not to have their problems solved, but to be heard. It steered me away from a more intrusive project I was considering, and I decided I wanted to show what suicidal mindsets could look like. Every struggle is individual, but the way a lot of things look could be similar. People could draw from that and relate to the PSAs. I knew that they wouldn't resonate with everyone, but if one person could see their own struggle in the series, than it was a success." Peter told us when discussing his newly released PSA series Talk with Me, which demonstrates teen mental health issues both for those suffering and those looking to understand what they may not have experienced themselves. The whole series was shown for Peter's capstone project when he graduated from Emerson in May. He has recently released it to the public after moving out to LA to continue his career in film. They are truly impressive pieces of work, and we are so proud to see a former volunteer continuing to make a difference in mental health!
Watch In No Time here, and you can find all six of the Talk with Me PSAs on Peter's YouTube channel here. To learn more about becoming a Samaritans' volunteer, register for an info session here. |
| Join us at the Annual Memorial |
 I attend the Samaritans' Memorial Service because I know I'm not alone as a suicide loss survivor. Because it's an opportunity for me to publicly talk about my brother Tommy and what he means to me. Because it's an opportunity to learn about other survivors' loved ones. The Memorial can be very moving and emotional at times as it brings to the surface how much we miss them. But it is also very comforting because we publicly recognize who they are and how loved they are. Other survivors may not personally know your loved one but they relate to your stories, your poems, your songs, and your letters - so at the Memorial, as a survivor, you are not alone. - Suicide loss survivor and Samaritans' Board Member, Jane Quercia
We invite you to join us on Sunday, January 31, 2016 for Samaritans' Annual Memorial Service where we will share our love and our grief for those we've lost with others who understand. Whether through song, poem, letter or silent observance - we will remember them. By coming together and memorializing our loved ones, we are able to share the everlasting imprint they have left in our hearts.
Those who attend range from people who have suffered a recent loss to people who are remembering a loved one lost to suicide years ago. Even if you have not lost a loved one to suicide, all members of the greater Samaritans' community are invited to join us for this powerful event. There is no more impactful way to be reminded of the importance of our work, nor more inspirational way to rededicate ourselves to the work of suicide prevention in the upcoming year.
When and Where : 3-5PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Arlington Center (630 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington), a social hour will follow the program to build upon the community of support we have created at Samaritans.
If you'd like to be added to the mailing list for this event or to find out more, please contact our Grief Support Services manager, Emily Britt.
It's impactful for me to share [my wife's] memory with others during this special season. It's a little more reverent than the 5K Run/Walk with people sharing from the heart, and it's nice to be in that environment and to share with people who get it. - Suicide loss survivor Robert McGuiness
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Out and About
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It was a very thankful November in Samaritans' Community Education and Outreach Department. We had a very busy month, which included the screening of Samaritans documentary You are Not Alone at Suffolk University. As a result of this screening, there has been quite a bit of interest from various colleges around the city. Suicide Prevention is an important topic for all ages, but college students have a lot of stress on their plate and it's important for them to understand that what they are feeling is okay and that they are not alone in those feelings. Samaritans' presentations help build resiliency and positive coping skills to help students deal with the many stressors that can come with being a college student. If you would like to schedule a screening of Samaritans: You are Not Alone or a Community Education and Outreach seminar, contact Lauren Gablinske.
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| Meet our 2016 Boston Marathon Team! |
In 4 months, 14 dedicated people will run 26.2 miles for suicide prevention in the Boston Marathon. Some are survivors, running to remember siblings, parents and friends lost to suicide. Others are running to celebrate their success in a personal struggle with depression and bi-polar disorder.
Thanks to the John Hancock Boston Marathon Non-Profit, this is the 9th consecutive year that Samaritans will have a team running the 26.2 miles. Meet three members of our outstanding team:
 Andrea Mendes: Andrea is a visiting professor at UMass Lowell and a physical therapist. She is running the Boston Marathon in memory of her twin sister and best friend, Joann, who was also a physical therapist. Andrea became involved with Samaritans' after her little sister Renee organized Joann's Team for this year's 5K. Her family also regularly attends SafePlace meetings. To learn more about Andrea or make a donation towards her goal of $10,000, visit her CrowdRise Page.
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 Dave Thompson: Dave is a software manager at Pearson VUE and is running the Boston Marathon in memory of his sister, Katherine. He ran his first marathon last year, and is excited to run his first Boston Marathon as a member of Samaritans' team. To learn more about Dave or make a donation towards his goal of $10,000, visit his CrowdRise Page.
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 Davia Moore: Davia is a Special Education Teacher at Marsh Middle School, and ran her first marathon last year as a member of Samaritans' team. She is excited to do it all over again, and also recently started volunteering on the Helpline. Davia has survived her own journey with mental illness and suicidality and wants to be a spokesperson for all who have struggled. Davia is hosting a Holiday Silent Auction & Craft Fair on December 17th to support her goal, and also created this amazing video about her experience running the Boston Marathon for suicide prevention last year. To learn more about Davia or make a donation towards her goal of $7,000 visit her CrowdRise Page.
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- Make a donation. Donate to the Samaritans team or directly to individual runners by visiting CrowdRise.
- Qualified for the Boston Marathon and want to make your run more meaningful? Join our team!
- Sponsor the team! Corporate sponsorship comes with a variety of great benefits, learn more here.
- Do you have access to bib numbers? We still have one Alternate Runner waiting to receive a bib for the 2016 Boston Marathon, as well as others willing to start training and fundraising at a moments notice.
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The Chelmsford Independent gets to know Steve
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 We're nearing the end of Steve Mongeau's first year as our Executive Director, and many of you have gotten the chance to meet him or see him speak at the Breakfast for Hope, 5K, or smaller events. Learn more about him in this recent interview in his hometown paper, The Chelmsford Independent, where he discusses losing his sister Kathy to suicide, finding Samaritans, and his new role and responsibilities in the transition to Executive Director. |
| Volunteer Holiday Party |
 Last week Samaritans' training room was transformed into a Winter Wonderland for staff and volunteers to gather together to celebrate the holiday season. Over delicious Mediterranean food, we conversed about shared experienced with Samaritans and what brought each of us into suicide prevention. Since most volunteers befriend during the same shift each week, the holiday party is a great chance to meet volunteers they may not normally see. Sharing stories, advice, and inspiration made this event truly spectacular. Thank you volunteers for your dedication and compassion to Samaritans! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, click here. |
| Upcoming Events |
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December
- Help provide support for those who have lost someone to suicide by becoming a Grief Support Services Volunteer. Contact Grief Support Services Manager Emily Britt to learn more - Winter Training: Saturday, January 9; Saturday, January 16; Sunday, January 17.
- Have fun with support suicide prevention at Marathon Team Member Andrea's Comedy Night with Joey Voices- Thursday, January 28th, doors at 7PM, show at 8PM at The Tewksbury Country Club (1880 Main Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876), $30
- Remember your loved one at The Annual Memorial, and remember to contact Grief Support Services Manager Emily Britt if you would like to add something to this year's program or program book - Sunday, January 31st from 3-5PM with reception to follow at the Arlington Unitarian Universalist Church (630 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington MA 02456)
- Join Marathon Team Member Veronica to party for suicide prevention with silent auction, raffles, door prizes, and a DJ - Sunday, January 31st from 6-9PM at the Worcester Lodge of Elks (233 Mills Street, Worcester MA 01545), $25
February
- Zumba for Suicide Prevention with Marathon Team Member Veronica - Friday, February 5th from 6-8:30PM at Fit FRIENDzy Studio (196 Boston Turnpike Road, Shrewsbury, MA 01545), $15
May
- Mark your calendars for this year's Breakfast for Hope - Thursday, May 26th, reception begins at 7AM, program at 8AM at The Westin Copley Place
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Open Positions
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Interested in preventing suicide as a Samaritans' staff member or intern? We are currently accepting applications for:
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