Samaritans Manawatū was one of the earliest helplines in Aotearoa New Zealand. Established in 1967, today we remain a vibrant and diverse community organisation, committed to promoting emotional wellbeing through compassionate listening. Samaritans Manawatū is one of the cornerstones of volunteer social services in Papaioea / Palmerston North. From the 1970’s, our branch provided wraparound support to those at risk of suicide in our local communities. Our car squad made home-visits to people who were acutely distressed and we maintained a 24/7 helpline, all through a broad network of volunteers. Today, within the changed scope of Aotearoa New Zealand’s mental health services, we concentrate our services at a local and national level. Together with other Samaritans branches, we provide telephone listening services to callers across New Zealand. Training and education is a big part of what we do. All our courses remain free and will equip volunteers with the skills necessary to respond effectively to emotional distress and suicide in their own families, neighbourhoods, workplaces, and the Samaritans helpline itself. You can also see us out in the community, promoting Samaritans at market days, community events, and educational sessions. Look out for us in our green t-shirts! We remain volunteer based and need all the support we can get to continue providing our much-needed services to those touched by suicide, loneliness, and strife. When you join Samaritans Manawatū, you also join an extended family, made up of volunteers who deeply care about our communities. We check in with one another, we have regular social events, and we support our members through ongoing supervision and training. Please get in touch with us now to find out more about volunteering with or donating to our branch.