Health · Mental Health · 10 hrs ago
Nearly 8,000 volunteers answer calls to Germany’s telephone counselling service
Nearly 8,000 volunteers in Germany offer telephone counselling to people facing emotional distress.
They listen day and night, often helping callers with loneliness, grief, family problems and anxiety.
The service received about 1.3 million calls last year, as well as almost 100,000 contacts by email and chat.
Demand rises in the darker months and before Christmas, and callers in many places may have to wait.
The service is seeking more volunteers, who train for the role and commit to regular shifts; in Potsdam, that means at least three four-hour shifts each month.
Volunteers can also discuss difficult calls in regular group meetings, while callers may find relief in sharing emotions with someone who listens without judgement.
Nearly 8,000 volunteers support Germany’s telephone counselling service.
The service is available around the clock, every day of the week.
People call about loneliness, family and social problems, bereavement and deep fears.
The service received around 1.3 million calls nationwide last year, as well as nearly 100,000 email and chat contacts.
Demand rises during the darker months and before Christmas, when callers may face longer waits.
- Who
- Nearly 8,000 volunteers answer calls for Germany’s telephone counselling service.
- What
- The volunteers provide support to people in emotional distress.
- When
- The service is available 24 hours a day, every day. Demand rises in the darker months and before Christmas.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- People seek help with loneliness, personal relationships, bereavement, fears and other crises.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The counselling services across Germany received around 1.3 million calls and nearly 100,000 email and chat contacts.
A 39-year-old volunteer is due to start training as a telephone counsellor in Potsdam.
- Volunteers
- Nearly 8,000
- Availability
- 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Calls last year
- Around 1.3 million
- Email and chat contacts last year
- Nearly 100,000
- Potsdam volunteer training
- Begins in November
What people are saying
The need is huge.
Every tear that falls on the phone is valuable, because it is no longer on the heart.
It is a real added value when you do not get through a crisis alone — when you really work through it and are one step further afterwards.