The structure of Samaritans

 

Best guess

 

Founded in 1940-50s by Revd Chad Varah after suicide of teen girl (pregnant) and  because at the time the evil of back street abortionists had led to surgery that rendered women barren (unable to have children). In other countries this was even more extreme and the Revd set up an organisation to deal with it.

 

Contains church personnel and those of all faith and none to counsel those who are distressed and suicidal by phone.

 

Centrally located through Londons Mental health personnel and Clarence House.

 

Don’t do tracing services but handle written correspondence service. Tracing is done by Red Cross.

 

Has devolved language provision and is based on years and differing initiatives, Samaritans / samarriadd. Based on joking about the Ware family from previous generations.

 

Not much use if you want to find out about whether you’re a dad as its focused on how you are feeling.

 

Used by actors for material and also journalists.

 

As you can tell I phoned up this weekend and it made me feel jaded.