Delivering a tree of hope to mark Samaritans' 24/7 awareness day
Dublin Samaritans is marking its 24/7 national awareness day with a special delivery of a native Irish tree, a symbol of hope, to each of the 24 Samaritans’ branches across Ireland. The collaboration with Coillte and DHL Express aims to send a strong message of optimism to the nation.
“No one plants a tree without hope,” said Mary McMahon from the Dublin branch of the volunteer-led organisation. Mary McMahon is the Volunteer Director of Dublin Samaritans. She has been a volunteer with the organisation for more than 20 years. “We want to thank our new partners, the incredible team at DHL Express, especially Sharon Spencer, Mark Brien, Ken Byrne and the drivers who’ve helped deliver hope across Ireland today.
From our first meeting through the ‘Learn 2 Listen’ wellness programme, our partnership has gone from strength to strength. Its support for Dublin Samaritans’ 24/7 Day Awareness Day, the time they took and the care the drivers have shown in transporting our trees to each of the 24 branches is a testament to the team and culture at DHL Express. We are very grateful for your help and support."
A powerful reminder that Samaritans are available 24/7 354
As calls continue to rise year on year, the organisation's 24/7 Awareness Say is a reminder to communities north and south of the border that there is always a compassionate person ready to listen, without judgment or advice, on 116 123 - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Dublin Samaritans is the only 24/7 emotional support helpline in Ireland. The helpline is open 24/7, 365 days a year, to support anyone who needs an empathetic listening ear. The average length of a call is 28 minutes. Volunteers responded to 470,000 calls last year, an increase from 400,000 the previous year, averaging 1,500 calls per day.
When other organisations close their doors for the evening or weekends, calls are diverted to the 116 123 free phone line. According to the latest impact report* (2024), Samaritans answered over 6,800 calls diverted from other organisations when their phone lines were closed.
Ms McMahon concluded, “Strong emotions can surface at any time of the day or night. Last year alone, more than 6,800 people reached out to us when other services were closed. The calls often come at the most vulnerable moments for those people, and we are here for them. Always. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.”
Calls to 116 123 are free of charge, even from a mobile with no credit. The call will not appear on the phone bill. The call is anonymous and confidential.
Impact Report:
https://media.samaritans.org/documents/DIGITAL_2024_Impact_Report_updated.pdf
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