It was getting to the last hour in the shift from hell and I answered the phone in the usual way to hear a very small voice on the other end of the line:
Her: Hello… I’m sorry to bother you, ambulance service, but I can’t get hold of my GP… and I think I need someone to check me over to see if I am alright.
Me: (Slightly confused) Well, what’s wrong? Are you ill? In pain? Had an accident?
Her: No… no… I have a mental health problem.
Me: (Penny drops) Ah! Well, what seems to be the problem? Are you depressed? Suicidal? Paranoid? Do you have a radio in your head controlled by Fidel Castro?* We could send you an ambulance to check you over, if you like?
Her: No… no… I don’t want an ambulance… er…
Me: How about calling the emergency doctor then?
Her: Well, actually… it’s not an emergency… I just wanted to talk to someone…
Me: How about the Samaritans then? They’re really good to talk to and can help you if you’re feeling sad or lonely.
Her: Um, no… you see, I’m not… I actually had a really good day (starts to cry) and… I just wanted to tell someone… I don’t very often have good days, you see… I just wanted someone to tell me I am going to be alright…
*Those weren’t my exact words. Sometimes you might find I use a bit of poetic licence in my posts.
This call almost made me cry too. I am such a sap.
September 30th, 2005 at 10:23 pm
Awwww bless!!
October 6th, 2005 at 8:08 pm
Aww… that’s just wonderful!
August 1st, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Wonderful blog - funny, educational and very moving (having stumbled upon you tonight I’ve been unable to stop reading!) . I’m a listener with Samaritans and it’s interesting to see the other side of some of our callers. Strangely, my overnight shifts are not that different to yours, the regular callers, hoaxers, the sad, mad and bad. keep up the good work.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Wonderful blog - funny, educational and very moving (having stumbled upon you tonight I’ve been unable to stop reading!) . I’m a listener with Samaritans and it’s interesting to see the other side of some of our callers. Strangely, my overnight shifts are not that different to yours, the regular callers, hoaxers, the sad, mad and bad. keep up the good work.