Samaritans of Boston
was established in 1974 as the first stand-alone Samaritans branch formed in the U.S. following the principles of befriending first established by the UK Samaritans in 1953. There are Samaritans offices in other regions of Massachusetts, the U.S. and the world. Samaritans branches share a common mission and philosophy, but operate independently of each other. In 2005, we joined forces with Samaritans Suburban West to become one organization, Samaritans, Inc.
Today, Samaritans provides life-saving suicide prevention services throughout the Commonwealth, focusing on the communities of Greater Boston, MetroWest and out to the Western border with New York. Samaritans is a United Way of Massachusetts Bay affiliate and also a certified member of Contact USA. We are a founding member of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention and the Greater Boston Regional Coalition for Suicide Prevention. Samaritans is a non-denominational agency and provides services to any individual, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, race, disabilities, sexual orientation or religion.
