
Be the Support Someone Needs
Each day, people who struggle with loneliness, depression, or suicidal feelings turn to Samaritans’ 24/7 Helpline for nonjudgmental support. On the other side of a phone call or text message, they find a caring listener ready to provide compassion. You can be that caring listener!
Our Impact in 2022
helpline volunteers (331 adults & 46 youth)
hours volunteered
calls answered
Volunteer Opportunities
We have a variety of volunteer opportunities on our Helpline. Volunteers include teens (15+), students, working adults, and retirees. You don’t need to worry about having any prior training. All we ask is that you:
- Connect with our mission of suicide prevention through compassionate listening
- Follow our model of not giving advice or offering your opinion
- Provide a safe and nonjudgmental place for our callers and texters to share
- Practice open and honest communication
- Have basic computer skills

Two Hundred Hour Commitment
The most popular volunteer opportunity we have is our full commitment. We ask our volunteers to commit to volunteering for 200 hours (adults) and 150 hours (teens) over nine months. Adult volunteers must complete one four-hour shift every week and one overnight shift per month. Teen volunteers must complete one three-hour shift every week, but do not have a required overnight shift.
Internships
If you are a student looking for an internship for school, we have the capacity for Helpline interns! Most interns spend the course of an academic year shifting on the Helpline for two four-hour shifts each week and one overnight shift each month. Depending on the requirements from your school, we will assign a staff supervisor who will work with you as you grow!


Accelerated Summer Commitment
There are a handful of people interested in volunteering who don’t have the ability to make a nine-month commitment. If that is the case, our accelerated summer volunteer opportunity might be a better fit for you. We ask our accelerated summer volunteers to complete 150 hours on the Helpline over the span of three to four months and complete two overnights shift a month.
Remote Volunteering
Volunteer from your home, no matter where home is! Remote volunteering requires access to:
- A computer (we recommend a PC or Mac)
- A headset or headphones with microphone
- Reliable internet
- A quiet, confidential space
- Cell phone


Apply to Volunteer on the 24/7 Helpline
Few things can be as rewarding as knowing that you were there when someone needed you most. The more trained volunteers we have, the more people we can serve. Please complete the volunteer inquiry form and we will contact you with information about training availability.
We are currently not recruiting for prospective volunteers who can only do shifts from 7pm-11pm on weeknights.