Our Social Role

Understanding needs and inspiring trust.

Since opening its offices, Samaritan volunteers have gained a statewide reputation for understanding needs and inspiring trust. We do this by focusing on self-help, volunteerism and partnerships.

The Samaritans does not replace professional medical, mental health, social service or pastoral care. However, we provide supportive services between appointments or when family and friends are not available. Hotline/Listening Line support is also available to callers when professional services are no longer an option.

More than 500,000 calls have been received on our confidential and anonymous Hotline/Listening Line. More than 1,380 volunteers have donated over 276,000+ hours of listening and befriending. Our archives document hundreds of people who have participated in our Safe Place peer-to-peer bereavement support group. Youth and Teen Education as well as Outreach and Community Education programs bringing our message of befriending and suicide prevention to thousands in school and community based settings.

At our callers’ request, they receive referrals for emergency and professional mental health services provided by our Rhode Island-based primary and secondary tiered community partners. Our primary partners include State of Rhode Island 911 Emergency Telephone System, Rhode Island’s acute care hospitals and community mental health centers. Our secondary partners include Rhode Island based crisis lines supporting other specific issues such as domestic violence, gender issues, substance abuse and information and referral services.

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