FREE CONFIDENTIAL TELEPHONE SUPPORT SERVICE NOW AVAILABLE

St Helena Government (SHG) in partnership with UK Charity, Samaritans, and SURE South Atlantic Ltd are pleased to announce that a free and confidential telephone support service is now available. The telephone number for this service is 20000.

Callers can be assured that any calls placed via this number will be directed to Samaritans in the UK, they are entirely confidential, and will not appear on the caller’s telephone bills.

Samaritans are there round-the-clock, every single day of the year to provide emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of emotional distress. Samaritans are committed to the following values – listening without judging, confidentiality, people making their own decisions, and giving people time and space to talk, with another person, about whatever is getting to them to help see a way through this.

SHG understands the increasing needs of the community and this support service will complement existing local services.

 

Members of the public with any concerns regarding this support may call any of the following services, who will be happy to help:

 

Safeguarding Directorate              00290 22713

Police Confidential Help Line      00290 22888

Mental Health Services                 00290 22593

Human Rights Office                     00290 22133

 

Assistant Chief Secretary, Paul McGinnety, commented:

“We understand the need for people on the Island to be able to access confidential off- Island support and it is with great pleasure that we are able to work with the UK Samaritans to provide such a service.  We are also indebted to SURE who have agreed to cover the costs of all of the calls and their team who have provided us with a unique number which will not show up on individual bills. Can I stress that this is a confidential line to provide support for people who need it and only if the service is mis-used will the caller lose their right to confidentiality. I would like to place on record our thanks to Samaritans and SURE.”

SHG

2 March 2015 

 

 

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St Helena Government Communications Hub

Telephone: 22470
Email: kimberley.peters@sainthelena.gov.sh