Volunteer's hope for prison scheme

Samaritan volunteer Liz Martin. Photo / Supplied

A samaritan whose trip to England was funded by Cathay Pacific and the Herald on Sunday has learned how suicides could be reduced in New Zealand prisons.

Wellington Samaritan support phoneline volunteer Liz Martin went to England for the Samaritans Annual Conference in York last month, after the New Zealand charity won a Cathay Pacific High-Flyer Award in association with the Herald on Sunday.

While there, Martin went to a seminar on prison listening, a Samaritans-led practice which has been going for 20 years in the UK and is in 145 prisons. Martin would like to see it here.

She said the UK Samaritans went into prisons, selected suitable prisoners and trained them to be prison listeners.

The trained prison listeners could then listen to other prisoners who needed someone to talk to in confidence.

Martin said New Zealand Samaritans had had some discussions with the Department of Corrections about prison listening, but it was still in the early stages.

Since returning to Wellington, Martin has given a presentation to the Samaritans board of trustees and written a detailed report about the conference.

She will also present a paper to the New Zealand Samaritans' annual conference next month.

She enjoyed the trip and the conference.

"It was just absolutely wonderful to have this experience."

The New Zealand Samaritans is a confidential listening and support telephone service operating 24 hours a day for people who may be feeling depressed, lonely or even contemplating suicide.

It covers the lower North Island, Christchurch and the West Coast.

Each year, more than 20,000 people call the helpline, 0800 726 666, to receive confidential support from the volunteers.

In Auckland, people can call the Samaritans on 0800 211 211 or Lifeline on (09) 522 2999.