“I have the chance to be the support I never received.”
That’s how one Hey Sam team member describes what it means to work on Samaritans’ peer-to-peer mental health textline for people up to age 24.
Since its launch in 2022, Hey Sam has held over 16,000 text conversations with young people feeling overwhelmed, lonely, or suicidal. Teenagers and young adults are trained to ask difficult questions and listen without judgment, small steps that can have a big impact on someone who is struggling.
This Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month, join us for a webinar panel that shows why suicide prevention starts with everyday conversations. Hear directly from Hey Sam team members about the value of peer support, what it’s like to text someone through a hard moment, and what adults should know about youth mental health today.
We all have a role to play in suicide prevention. Whether you work with young people or want to better support your own kids, this webinar will show that you don’t have to be a professional to help.
Andrew Obara
Aaron Tsai
Aaron Tsai (he/him) has been with Hey Sam since 2024, first as a textline responder and now as a Learning Shift Mentor and Advisory Board member. He has lived in Arizona his entire life and attends the University of Arizona as a sophomore, majoring in Physiology and Molecular and Cellular Biology. Aaron also co-facilitates children’s grief support groups and volunteers in hospice and pediatric hospital care. He is grateful for the trust texters place in him during hard moments. In his free time, he runs, lifts, and plays piano at nursing homes around Tucson.
Anjana Vallepalli
Moderators:
Arnetia Jean
Arnetia Jean (she/her) is Samaritans’ Text Team Lead. She began as a Text Coordinator on Hey Sam in November 2023 through a partnership with a nonprofit named Breaktime. She is also a member of Breaktime’s Young Adult Leadership Council– using the collective lived experienced to advocate for young adults facing homelessness in Boston. Arnetia was born & raised in Lowell, MA and studied a few years of Psychology at both Middlesex Community College & Fitchburg State University. She spends her free time enjoying one of her favorite shows, journaling, or cooking.
Stephanie Cohen
Stephanie Cohen (she/her) is the Manager of Text Operations at Samaritans. After nearly a decade of living and working in New York City and then Madrid, she returned to her home state of Massachusetts. Stephanie brings her experience from the education, youth empowerment, and nonprofit space to Samaritans. She is honored to serve those who volunteer with and seek the services of Samaritans. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, being outside, and trying new restaurants.
Andrew Obara (he/him) is a Hey Sam Volunteer and Learning Shift Mentor. Originally from Massachusetts, he is a psychology major at American University in Washington, DC. Andrew has been involved with Hey Sam since September 2024 and takes great pride in supporting fellow young people who reach out to Samaritans and mentoring new volunteers as they begin their work on the textline. Andrew is also a huge soccer and live music fan.