Samaritans, Inc.

Investing in your mental health is leadership. I am inviting you to join us at the Mental Health While Black Summit, a convening designed for professionals, leaders, advocates, caregivers, and community members who understand that well-being is not separate from performance, impact, or sustainability. This summit centers evidence-informed dialogue, lived experience, and culturally responsive approaches to mental health in Black communities. Attendees will engage in thoughtful conversations on leadership, loss, resilience, intergenerational healing, and the systems that shape our outcomes at work and in life. Purchasing a ticket is more than attending an event. It is a commitment to learning, accountability, and showing up with intention in your personal and professional spaces. If you lead teams, serve communities, manage people, or influence policy, this room matters. The relationships built, perspectives gained, and insights shared extend far beyond a single day. Tickets are available now. I encourage you to attend, share with your network, and be part of a conversation that moves mental health from the margins to the center of leadership and equity. https://lnkd.in/efPU356Y

A special thank you to the PWHL Boston Fleet for hosting us at their Mental Health Awareness game! We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect with fans and stand alongside so many incredible organizations dedicated to mental health and suicide prevention.

We are heartbroken by the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis this weekend. This tragic loss comes amid a month already marked by violence in Minnesota and beyond, including the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos while in ICE custody, and the non-fatal shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis. These incidents of violence may leave you feeling afraid, anxious, or angry. Witnessing graphic violence, whether first-hand or through video, can amplify these feelings and significantly impact mental health. Many people, in Massachusetts and other states, are deeply worried that similar violence may increase in their own communities as well. Your concerns are real, and your feelings are valid. Please take care of yourself and reach out if you are struggling. We are here for you, for any reason. You are not alone. Emotional support is available 24/7 through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Text or call 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Youth up to age 24 can text Hey Sam for peer support at 439-726. Available 9am to Midnight ET. You can also reach Samaritans, Inc. directly on our 24/7 Helpline. Call or text 1-877-870-4673.

Registration for our Annual Memorial on March 1, 2026 is open. Register by Sunday, February 1 to submit a memory of your loved one for our program book. Share their name and/or photo, or submit a poem or letter which you can read out loud yourself or have someone from Samaritans read for you at the Memorial. Details and registration: https://lnkd.in/dB-SCar

The Kita Center offers Comfort Boxes to those grieving the recent loss of a loved one to suicide. The program, named DavidCares, honors Steven's partner David, who he lost to suicide in 2009. Despite the years that have passed, Steven continues to find meaningful ways to love and honor David's memory. To watch the full video, visit: https://lnkd.in/eamnPqvF

Steven lost his partner, David, to suicide in 2009. As a gay man grieving his partner, he faced unique challenges: no bereavement leave or workplace support, dismissal of his loss since he wasn’t legally married, and insensitive questions about David’s sexuality. He also navigated the challenging emotions many other suicide loss survivors experience: loneliness, anger, relief that his partner was no longer struggling, and guilt for feeling relieved. The loss shattered Steven’s identity as a kindergarten teacher. He quit his job and got a PhD in psychology , wanting to understand David better even after his death. Steven now works as the Director of Postvention & Community Programs at The Kita Center, a non-profit offering community care and connection for youth who have lost a loved one to suicide. He realizes healing after suicide loss is not about separating his identity before David’s death from who he is now, but about integrating all parts of himself—someone equipped to teach and support young people, which is what he has always wanted to do. To watch Steven's story: https://lnkd.in/eamnPqvF

On Tuesday evening, the federal government abruptly cut funding of up to $2 billion for suicide prevention, mental health, and substance abuse services. On Wednesday evening, the funding was reinstated. While these cuts did not directly affect Samaritans – the 988 Lifeline was not among the affected programs – the impact of ending such a wide range of services could have been catastrophic. Suicide prevention is more than crisis services. In addition to supporting people in their darkest moments, to truly create a world without suicide, we must also connect with people before they get to the point of considering suicide. That means teaching youth to recognize signs of suicide, addressing substance use, preventing postpartum depression, and a number of other lifesaving services that would have been defunded by this reckless action. At a time when people are feeling overwhelmed, scared, and isolated, we do not need more uncertainty in our mental health care services. We need consistency, we need to support mental health workers, and we need to reach out to those who are struggling. Thank you to the many legislators and advocates, including Massachusetts leaders, who quickly spoke out against this decision and urged the federal government to reverse the funding cuts. Without your support, lives would have been lost. If you or someone you know is struggling, emotional support is available 24/7 through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Text or call 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Youth up to age 24 can text Hey Sam for peer support at 439-726. Available 9am to Midnight ET. You can also reach Samaritans, Inc. directly on our 24/7 Helpline. Call or text 1-877-870-4673.

Committing to run a marathon while working full-time means 4-5 months of EARLY bedtimes, limited social plans due to training, working when you’re tired and sore and chafed. Committing to run a marathon for charity, particularly Boston where the minimum (for my charity) is $10,000, means all that PLUS lots creative fundraising. It can feel daunting; but it’s the ONLY kind of marathoning I enjoy because it’s my “heart work.” It sounds like I could be distracted from my job because of all this; but it actually helps me focus BETTER during the work day because I MUST “schedule” my before- and after-work workouts and fundraising times in advance, and make sure I stick to deadlines to limit after-hours work. And still attend to all of my home and family responsibilities. Seriously, I’m happiest and most productive in all realms when I’m training for a race (any race)! And, I still worry about meeting my fundraising goal. So, when a dea runner friend donates two Celtics tickets to raffle off, I feel so incredibly grateful. Little by little, I’m approaching my goal. AND, someone will win two wicked awesome Celtics tickets—just by supporting the lifesaving work of Samaritans, Inc. 🏀 🍀 Want to help reach my goal and enter for your chance to win? Right now odds are 1 in 47 😅 🎁 CELTICS TICKET GIVEAWAY! Thanks to an incredibly generous donation by the Fragione family, one lucky donor will win TWO amazing seats to cheer on the Boston Celtics vs Charlotte Hornets! 📍 LOGE 18 • ROW 6 📅 WED • MARCH 4 • 7:30PM (Actual seat view in the photo!) 🎟 ENTRY DETAILS: $25 = 1 entry $50 = 3 entries $75 = 10 entries (!!) $100 = 20 entries 📅 DRAWING DATE: January 17 (Donate 1/10-1/17 at 10am ET) To enter, simply donate to my Boston Marathon fundraiser for Samaritans. Every dollar raised helps support crisis services and outreach for those impacted by suicide. Donate at #linkinbio or ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eFwjwb8W THANK YOU!!!! Let’s go! 🏃🏻♀️ 🫏 💪🏻 🍀 🏀 #BostonMarathon2026 #TeamSamaritans #RunForTeddy #SamaritansInc #SuicidePrevention #MentalHealthMatters #YouAreNotAlone #StopSuicide #SuicideLossSurvivor #RunningForACause #CharityRunner #FundraisingForGood #BostonStrong #RunBoston #MarathonTraining #BostonCeltics #CelticsNation #CelticsFans #TDGarden #BostonGiveaway #CelticsGiveaway #GiveawayAlert #HealingInMotion #RunningSavedMe #RunnersOfInstagram

We’re so grateful to have so many amazing runners on our 2026 Boston Marathon team! Here’s a snapshot from our team breakfast after a long training run this weekend. Wishing all our runners the best of luck as you continue your training and raise funds that will benefit Samaritans suicide prevention services. You inspire us every step of the way.

Committing to run a marathon while working full-time means 4-5 months of EARLY bedtimes, limited social plans due to training, working when you’re tired and sore and chafed. Committing to run a marathon for charity, particularly Boston where the minimum (for my charity) is $10,000, means all that PLUS lots creative fundraising. It can feel daunting; but it’s the ONLY kind of marathoning I enjoy because it’s my “heart work.” It sounds like I could be distracted from my job because of all this; but it actually helps me focus BETTER during the work day because I MUST “schedule” my before- and after-work workouts and fundraising times in advance, and make sure I stick to deadlines to limit after-hours work. And still attend to all of my home and family responsibilities. Seriously, I’m happiest and most productive in all realms when I’m training for a race (any race)! And, I still worry about meeting my fundraising goal. So, when a dea runner friend donates two Celtics tickets to raffle off, I feel so incredibly grateful. Little by little, I’m approaching my goal. AND, someone will win two wicked awesome Celtics tickets—just by supporting the lifesaving work of Samaritans, Inc. 🏀 🍀 Want to help reach my goal and enter for your chance to win? Right now odds are 1 in 47 😅 🎁 CELTICS TICKET GIVEAWAY! Thanks to an incredibly generous donation by the Fragione family, one lucky donor will win TWO amazing seats to cheer on the Boston Celtics vs Charlotte Hornets! 📍 LOGE 18 • ROW 6 📅 WED • MARCH 4 • 7:30PM (Actual seat view in the photo!) 🎟 ENTRY DETAILS: $25 = 1 entry $50 = 3 entries $75 = 10 entries (!!) $100 = 20 entries 📅 DRAWING DATE: January 17 (Donate 1/10-1/17 at 10am ET) To enter, simply donate to my Boston Marathon fundraiser for Samaritans. Every dollar raised helps support crisis services and outreach for those impacted by suicide. Donate at #linkinbio or ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eFwjwb8W THANK YOU!!!! Let’s go! 🏃🏻♀️ 🫏 💪🏻 🍀 🏀 #BostonMarathon2026 #TeamSamaritans #RunForTeddy #SamaritansInc #SuicidePrevention #MentalHealthMatters #YouAreNotAlone #StopSuicide #SuicideLossSurvivor #RunningForACause #CharityRunner #FundraisingForGood #BostonStrong #RunBoston #MarathonTraining #BostonCeltics #CelticsNation #CelticsFans #TDGarden #BostonGiveaway #CelticsGiveaway #GiveawayAlert #HealingInMotion #RunningSavedMe #RunnersOfInstagram