Our Services

Samaritans’ goal is to reduce the risk of suicide and increase awareness about suicide prevention throughout Greater Boston and MetroWest. We accomplish this through five suicide prevention programs:

• Befriending Service - 24 Hour Helpline
• Samariteens - We’re here to listen. Teen to teen
• Support for Survivors
• Community Outreach
• Lifeline - Suicide Prevention & Intervention

Befriending Service - 24 Hour Helpline

The Samaritans provides a free and confidential 24-hour phone befriending line: 617.247.0220 or 508.875.4500. Or you can reach us toll-free at 877.870.HOPE. This unique service, which is staffed by trained volunteers from locations in Boston and Framingham, provides unconditional and non-judgemental support to those who are alone, depressed or in crisis. Whatever the challenge or struggle, anyone who is suffering can find at The Samaritans a caring, empathetic ear, eager to listen and understand.

Sometimes you don’t need someone to hear – you need someone to listen. Find out more.

Samariteens - We’re Here to Listen. Teen to Teen

Samariteens is a special part of our befriending service dedicated to assisting teens in despair. This help line, 800.252.TEEN(8336), is free, confidential and staffed by teenage volunteers who are trained to be compassionate and supportive listeners. Samariteens provides peer support and understanding to those facing the particular challenges of adolescence. It is staffed on weekdays between 3 pm - 9pm and on weekends between 9 am - 9 pm by teens. Outside these hours, the line is answered by adult volunteers.

There are a million reasons to feel alone. Call us to talk about any of them. Find out more.

Support for Survivors

Samaritans offers peer support services to those who have lost a loved one to suicide, including our SafePlace support groups in communities throughout greater Boston and Metrowest, and visits by trained Survivor to Survivor Network Volunteers.

Samaritans Survivor Support Services provide places to talk, to be silent, to listen, to grieve, and to share. Find out more.

Community Education and Outreach

Education is an important and effective suicide prevention tool. Through our education and outreach program, Samaritans provides education and training on identifying those at risk for suicide and suicide prevention strategies. We are available to train schools, professional groups, civic, religious and social organizations.

In an engaging two to four hour workshop, participants learn important information about suicide prevention, as well as the basic concept and skills of befriending. Inquire about scheduling a training.

As our efforts to build community awareness about suicide, suicide prevention and Samaritans’ services grow, we are more and more often called upon to provide assistance, support and counsel in the aftermath of a suicide. Our postvention program trains teachers and other adults who work with youth with a combination of previous tested crisis curricula and Samaritans’ befriending techniques.

Lifeline - Suicide Prevention & Intervention

The Samaritans facilitates Lifeline, a unique suicide prevention and intervention program, in selected Eastern Massachusetts correctional facilities. Through Lifeline, volunteers provide face-to-face befriending to fellow inmates and detainees who have expressed feelings of despair and isolation, or who may have signaled in some way that they are at risk of suicide.