Magic number lifted the gloom of the dark days

LISTENING Samaritan volunteer Jean Casey

COPING with her mum's severe depression had a profound and lifelong impact on Jean Casey.

During one of his many visits to her home, the family doctor one day handed a very young Jean what she came to call "a magic number".

As a child, from around the age of seven or eight, she would hand the magic number to her mum to help her get through the bad and very tough times.

After her mum dialled those indispensable digits and struck up a conversation on the other end of the phone, she would be calm and life in their often turbulent and emotional household would temporarily return to normal.

Later in life Jean learned that magic number was the Samaritans' hotline.

It drew her mum out of the darkness countless times and ingrained a respect and awe for the organisation in Jean.

"When she was in a deep depression she would take anti-depressants and they would knock her out and it would give me and my dad a bit of relief," said Jean.

"But the doctor came one day and gave me this piece of paper with a number written on it. All he said was: "If you tell your mummy to ring this number somebody will talk to her and it might make her feel better. Someone will be there to listen to your mummy".

"When she was feeling down sometimes I would ring the number for her and put the phone against her ear. I thought it was a "magic number" because my mum was so much calmer after those phone calls.

"When things got bad or I needed a break or needed to do my homework when I was older I would hand my mum this number. After speaking to someone she would be quiet and calm and it just helped to take some of the pressure off."

Sadly, after numerous attempts, her mum finally took her own life when Jean was 17.

Although nothing can ever heal the pain and distress of her mum's death, Jean has found her own solace by joining the lifeline group which gave her and her family the strength to carry on.

"When I learned the magic number was the Samaritans I vowed I would volunteer for them when I grew up," added Jean (52), from Oldham.

"So once my family flew the nest and I became a golf widow on a Sunday, I decided to look into volunteering for the Samaritans as I promised myself I would all those years ago. Now things have reversed and my partner is a Samaritan's widow but he doesn't complain - much!"

Jean, who works in NHS purchasing, began training to be a Samaritan in 2013 and qualified in 2014.

She is a volunteer at Rochdale, Oldham and District branch and deputy director for volunteer support, a friendly ear for the volunteers, and a mentor for new Samaritans.

"In all Samaritans branches there is a support system in place for all our volunteers. We are all human beings at the end of the day with the same issues and needs as everyone else," she said.

"It is extremely important for us to ensure that volunteers feel strong enough to support the needs of our callers."

People calling the Rochdale and Oldham Samaritans can come from anywhere in the UK.

Jean added: "We are there to actively listen to our callers and provide them with emotional support. We do not give advice, although if a caller specifically requests it, we may signpost them to other organisations in partnership with Samaritans.

"We are trained to support the emotional needs of all our callers whatever the circumstances and everything our callers share with us is completely confidential."

"Feeling part of a team with a joint ethos in caring for other people is what motivates me. Thinking that you have touched another person's life when it really matters is rewarding in itself.

"I feel proud to be part of the Samaritans' organisation and the skills I have gained as part of the initial and ongoing Samaritan training have benefited me massively in my ever day life.

"They have helped me to cope better with the stresses and strains we all cope with on a daily basis."