'I see so many young people suffering with their mental health - while they're on waiting lists'

There are many reasons why someone might want to volunteer for Samaritans, but for Phillipa McConville the moment came during Covid. Student support officer Phillipa shared how she had wanted to make sure people had 'someone to talk to' during the isolating experience of lockdown.

And while lockdowns are now a distant memory for many people, Phillipa has continued to volunteer for Samaritans to this day. Now, she talks about what it is like volunteering, and urges other people to get involved.

Phillipa first started volunteering with the police, before she moved over to the Samaritans.

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Speaking about why she decided to become a volunteer, she told the Manchester Evening News: "We were all going through a difficult time at that time [during covid]. I'm very passionate about mental health, and I'm very passionate that people should have someone to talk to about it."

If this piece has affected you and you want to talk to someone, there are helplines and support groups available, many of them 24/7.

The NHS Choices website lists the following helplines and support networks for people to talk to.

Phillipa shared that she has been left frustrated by the lack of access to mental health support. She said: "You see so many young people suffering with mental health, and they're all on waiting lists."

While Phillipa finds her volunteering very rewarding, the nature of it means that there are challenging aspects.

She said: "Some of the calls are difficult. Someone might want to take their own life."

Phillipa explained that there is training and support in place if a volunteer has a particularly difficult call with someone