Brew Monday 2023: Date, History, Facts about the Samaritians Nonprofit

Brew Monday occurs annually on the third Monday of January, or January 16 this year, and is a time to schedule an online, phone, or in-person meeting with someone who might otherwise find a cold, dreary winter day nearly insurmountable. Chad Varah, a vicar, founded the international charity Samaritans in 1953, which does not endorse any religious faith or sect. Samaritans Day was created as a result.

HISTORY OF BREW MONDAY

The original biblical parable of the Good Samaritan is an excellent place to begin studying the history of Brew Monday. In the story, thieves attack a traveller and leave him injured and nearly naked by the side of the road. As dawn approaches, a Jewish priest walks by, and despite the fact that the robbery victim is also Jewish, he averts his gaze and continues on. A short time later, a Levite also passes by without assisting the man. Finally, a Samaritan, the Jews’ traditional enemies, arrives and sets aside his politics to bring the man to safety.

In this spirit, the Samaritans charity operates today. In the past six decades, the organisation has undergone a number of leadership transitions and mergers while expanding beyond its original birthplace in the United Kingdom to the United States, Asia, and elsewhere. Samaritans received over five million calls for assistance annually by 2014, and in 2020 they launched the “Brew Monday” campaign to give groups of friends a reason to stay in touch and discuss their problems. Their primary objective has always been to operate a toll-free helpline — 116 123 in the United Kingdom.

Brew Monday is intended to raise funds for Samaritans’ ongoing operations, so a portion of the event is commercial. And we advise staying within the lines because we can afford to. Choose a Monday this winter and make a note to reach out to a friend who needs to hear that they are valuable and loved, even if this is not the case.

Today, Samaritans receives millions of calls, emails, and other contacts in multiple countries, offering a confidential ear to anyone suffering from emotional distress, including suicidal thoughts. In recent years, the organisation has encouraged members to set aside any Monday — particularly in the winter — to gather a group for tea and cakes and to discuss members’ problems without fear of reprisal.

FIVE OUTSTANDING FACTS ABOUT THE SAMARITANS NONPROFIT

The 2013 suicide-reporting guidelines published by Samaritans have received multiple awards.

Despite its original religious affiliation, the Samaritans of today neither condemn suicide as a sin nor require callers to demonstrate suicidal ideation, receiving a large number of calls from individuals who do not have suicidal thoughts.

Since merging with “Befrienders Worldwide,” a charity with similar operational principles, Samaritans has received an even greater number of requests for assistance via electronic communications.

During a brief period in 2014, Samaritans offered an app that would automatically analyse a Twitter user’s friends’ posts and alert the user if the AI detected signs of emotional distress; however, the app was discontinued due to the risk of internet trolls using it to target vulnerable individuals.

Volunteers of Samaritans undergo extensive practical and sensitivity training, learning how to ask open-ended questions and encourage callers to find their own path forward, as opposed to giving specific advice.