The move is expected to happen this autumn and will take the branch to Jamaica Hall at the northern end of St Peter Port, next to the Jamaica Inn.
The current premises are on Forest Lane, near Moores Hotel, and are used as a space for face-to-face callers and a base for its volunteers to answer telephone calls, texts and emails from across the country.
Branch director Zee Lanoe said the move will ensure more volunteers are able to help provide the service. ‘With more volunteers we are able to open for longer hours, providing better support for both the local community and in manning the national charity helplines,’ she said.
Graham Hall, who is due to take over from Ms Lanoe as branch director in July said: ‘Although we pride ourselves on the broad spectrum of backgrounds and ages of volunteers at the branch, it has been frustrating that we have not been able to provide access to volunteers with physical disabilities.
‘We also want to use the move to the new premises to encourage anyone on the island who needs emotional support to come into the centre to talk to us. During the hours we are able to open there is always a trained volunteer available to listen and provide emotional support.’
Samaritans’ publicity officer Nigel Lewis said the service has seen an increase in callers alongside a stretch on mental health resources generally.
‘By talking through their issues in a confidential, non-judgemental and safe environment, callers are able to access the emotional support they need and also to start unravelling their own thought processes,’ he said.
‘Very often the contact with Samaritans might be the first time a caller has verbally expressed their problems or their having suicidal thoughts. Callers will frequently express how helpful it has been to just have someone to talk to about how they are feeling,’ he said.
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