Members of the Stage Academy stage school pictured with Mayor of Kildare Cllr Brendan Weld, former Mayor Cllr Fiona O’Loughlin and local Samaritain volunteers at the Whitewater Shopping Centre for the launch of the Samaritans #TalktoUs campaign
THE Newbridge branch of The Samaritans launched a new campaign last week encouraging people to talk about and share their problems.
The #TalkToUs campaign coincides with new research undertaken on behalf of The Samaritans which shows that one in four of people in the Republic of Ireland feel they don’t have anyone to share their troubles with.
The survey also reveals that one in three people can feel overwhelmed by our problems, but two in five of us don’t want to burden others.
Cllr Fiona O’Loughlin, herself a former volunteer with The Samaritans, welcomed Mayor of Kildare Cllr Brendan Weld to Newbridge on Friday 24 July to support the local Samaritan volunteers in their campaign.
Cllr O’Loughlin said the date of the campaign launch is significant.
“The launch took place on the 24th day of the seventh month and this is to highlight the fact that the Samaritan’s are available to talk to people 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The campaign is to encourage people to talk and share their problems, and to recognise that the need to talk is a strength.
“Everyone’s different and what one person might cope with can easily overwhelm another. The Samaritan volunteers can support those who need to talk, whatever they’re going through and Samaritans volunteers are here round the clock 24/7 every day of the year to listen in confidence about whatever you need to share,” she said.
Local stage school, The Stage Academy, under the direction of Paula Conlan and Brenda Malone came along to lend their support and entertain the shoppers at the Whitewater Shopping Centre as part of the awareness campaign.
Samaritans provide a safe place for anyone struggling to cope, whoever they are and however they are feeling. Call the Samaritans free phone number 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.ie to find details of the nearest
