World Telecommunications Day in May 2007
Everyone deserves to be heard. To mark World Telecommunications Day in May 2007, LifeLine Southern Africa called on all South Africans, particularly the youth, to use their mobile or landline phones to talk to someone who cares. Connecting the Young, is the international theme for this day.
In a society where crime and violence, rape and trauma, HIV and AIDS, bereavement, suicide, poverty, relationship issues, depression, loneliness and self-esteem issues abound, it is helpful to talk. LifeLine Southern Africa offers a 24-hour telephone counselling service throughout the country, and qualified, caring lay counsellors offer non-judgmental and confidential counselling services to anyone wishing to talk about anything on their minds. The National Counselling Line (0861 322 322) is manned at every hour of the day and night.
Telephone counselling is non-threatening. Many people find it easier to talk over the telephone. This is often a good way to start with dealing with a problem or crisis, especially if one has transport difficulties or cannot visit a therapist. Telephone counselling can be a vitally necessary facility, and the organisation nationally receives an average of .... calls. The main issues that people call to talk about relate to relationships, loneliness, family matters, domestic violence, stress, grief, child abuse, rape, violence, crime and depression.
Telephone counselling offers absolute confidentiality. One does not need to supply your name or any personal details to the LifeLine counsellors. They are available to listen whenever one needs to talk, and their aim is not to solve problems for the caller, but to empower the caller to find his or her own solutions. Telephone counselling can be the first step in this process.
LifeLine Southern Africa believes counselling to be a right of every South African, and not a luxury. If utilised to the fullest, it can be a key factor in creating emotionally healthier and happier individuals who indulge in less risky behaviour and make wiser choices for their lives.
Make World Telecommunications Day 2007 the day to begin this process of emotional healing. Call LifeLine on 0861 322 322 to talk.
Quote
If we do not rise to the challenge of our unique capacity to shape our lives, to seek the kinds of growth that we find individually fulfilling, then we can have no security: we will live in a world of sham, in which ourselves are determined by the will of others, in which we will be constantly buffeted and increasingly isolated by the changes round us
Nena O’Neal