For most, Christmas is a joyous time but, for some, it is the worst date in the calendar. For the Samaritans, it is the busiest time of the year. Reporter ADRIAN KWINTNER spoke to the director of the charity's Bromley and Orpington branch ...

CHRISTMAS equals happiness is a message TV commercials zap into our brains from early November. "Spend! Spend! Spend!" screams the TV, and another smug kid runs out of Hamley's with the new PlayStation he persuaded his doting father to put on a credit card.

With all the financial and familial pressures the festive season brings, it is no wonder many people reach breaking point.

Calls to The Samaritans rose by six per cent during the Christmas period last year.

And a new NOP poll shows 60 per cent of the population think their Christmas will be stressful or depressing this year due to financial worries, family pressures or the current world situation.

Family problems and pressures will affect 22 per cent of the population's enjoyment of Christmas.

Financial worries will affect 24 per cent of the population, while more than one in four people say current world events will affect their Christmas.

One in five people say the pressure to have a good time causes them stress during the festive season and 13 per cent of people think they will be affected by loneliness this Christmas.

Almost one person in 10 doesn't even know who they can turn to when Christmas gets too much.

The Samaritans has 48 years experience providing confidential, emotional support for people with feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.

Kathy 631 (all Samaritans prefer to be anonymous), director of Bromley and Orpington Samaritans, which has been offering support and befriending since the early 1960s, said: "For some people, Christmas time can bring sad or happy memories flooding back and they need somebody to talk to.

"Families coming together can bring extra stress on relationships, while some people are particularly lonely and may even be feeling suicidal."

She added: "Men between 18 and 25 are particularly at risk of suicide, as they have a lot of pressure at that age and find it difficult to express how they are feeling.

"But a lot of people just want to talk about what they are feeling. It's perhaps more poignant when people ring at Christmas or New Year."

As well as providing a listening ear, The Samaritans will launch a recruitment and fundraising campaign over Christmas.

A series of humorous TV adverts from Dominic Brigstocke, director of Harry Enfield and Chums and Smack the Pony, will draw attention to The Samaritans' first national appeal for funds with the theme "We're better at listening than raising money".

Every 50 calls to the helpline costs The Samaritans £24, while training materials for every new volunteer cost £18.

Last year, the charity took almost five million calls and is currently trying to recruit 2,000 new volunteers.

Kathy, who has been with the Samaritans for 13 years, said: "To be a Samaritan, you have to be a non-judgmental person and you have to listen without feeling you must advise."

If you want to donate money to the charity, you can call

on 08709 000032 or visit www.samaritans.org/donate

If you need somebody to talk to or you would like to help, you can contact Bromley and Orpington Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 01689 833000 or the national number on 08457 909090.

December 21, 2001 16:00