Samaritans warned of volunteer exodus if plans to close branches go ahead

Call handlers at the mental health helpline Samaritans are warning of a mass exodus of volunteers after the charity announced plans to close branches.

The 'volunteer listeners' say a shortage of people taking calls will lead to longer wait times to have them answered. In July, Samaritans chief executive Julie Bentley said it was no longer sustainable to have so many branches.

In a video message to staff, seen by Sky News, she said: "Many of the branches we have today came into existence at a time when Samaritans was set up as a local service, providing separate local numbers. But that hasn't been the case for some time.

"Our service today doesn't need the number of buildings we currently have." Colm Martin, a volunteer listener for five years, said the announcement came "out of the blue". "We cannot make sense of it.

This is supposed to be about improving a service and we can't understand how closing half of all of the branches will improve the service or encourage more volunteers to come forward." Mr Martin says he thinks Samaritans will lose volunteers. "Not because they want to leave, but because they're forced out, because there isn't a branch local to them that they can go to," he said.

Last year, three million people called the Samaritans in need of support. Its website reads "every life lost to suicide is a tragedy".

Helen Gilburt, senior fellow at the King's Fund, said: "We know that when people receive care in their local communities they're closer to home and their local support networks. "Also, it's always going to be better to try to intervene earlier and support people so that their mental health doesn't get to a point where they need to be in hospital." Read more from Sky News:King and Queen set to meet Pope LeoHackers 'behind nursery cyber attack' reveal details of threatMusk and Prince Andrew named in latest Epstein files release About 23,000 trained volunteers work with the charity to listen and provide fast support to those experiencing suicidal thoughts as well as other mental health issues.

Ms Bentley told Sky News: "The improvements we're proposing would mean callers getting through to Samaritans quicker while making it easier for anyone to join our amazing group of volunteers, regardless of their circumstances or busy lifestyles. "Samaritans will continue to be there for those struggling to cope across the UK and Republic of Ireland, day and night, 365 days a year." Surbiton-based Angela remembers calling Samaritans for help 40 years ago when her father was dying of cancer.

"Whenever I reached out to any family member, they'd say 'oh come on, you're strong, you know what you're doing. You're a nurse', she said.

"One night, I just reached an emotional limit. It was about two o'clock in the morning, and I thought 'I'm going to burst here'." Angela says she cannot recall how long the call lasted but says it was answered quickly.

"He hardly spoke, he just let me empty all my thoughts and he listened," she said. "That was so powerful to have someone just listening and not interrupting, not dismissing my feelings." The charity is set to vote on the proposed changes, which would take place over the next seven to 10 years, this weekend, although in Ireland the consultation process is not due to start until 2027.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. Alternatively, you can call Mind's support line on 0300 102 1234, or NHS on 111..