Samaritans offer emotional support

However, the counsellor you mentioned, who was no longer able to treat her (‘Helen Benson, aged 32, killed herself after her counsellor at the Samaritans left her job and was no longer able to treat her’) was an independent, professional counsellor, completely separate from Samaritans.

Sheffield Samaritans was, in fact, still providing support for Helen, although in March she had been encouraged to limit her contacts to once a day.

Helen’s family informed volunteers at Sheffield of her death and our sympathies are with them. We have offered them any support Samaritans can provide.

Samaritans are not counsellors and do not give advice, but do provide emotional support.

It is the aim of Samaritans to make emotional health a mainstream issue.

Anne Nettleship, Director, Sheffield Samaritans