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One of the [many] things that holds LifeLine/Childline Western Cape apart from other similar services, is that we remain open for telephone counselling 365 days a year. Every year – for the past 40 years – there are (and have been) counsellors who put their names down to volunteer on the lines at a time when others are celebrating/taking time off work/holidaying/relaxing/just being.
It is an important aspect of our service, that it is available, uninterrupted, during this time. It is also important opportunity now to pay tribute to our fantastic team of counsellors, and to show that LifeLine truly embodies the spirit of volunteerism, of community-mindedness and of kindness and generosity. Not only at this time of year, but every other day of the year too.
I asked our counsellors who will be working during the festive season, what prompted them to volunteer a shift at this time, and what their experience had been, if they had worked over this period before. Here are some of their thoughts and comments:
It is an honour to be part of Lifeline. My shifts are part of my monthly planning and part of myself!
The lines are busy; a lot of Childline hoax/test calls. I usually try to see if the child is aware of what the function of Childline is. It’s clear that the message/marketing at schools is good.
A lot of people cannot afford psychologists; therefore Lifeline is their only support.
I haven't volunteered to fill a shift at this time of the year before ... I don’t know whether the lines will be busy or not but I anticipate some lonely and depressed people and probably ... abuse and unhappiness.
It is such a pleasure to help out during this season.
I know and understand that this time of the year is the time for peace, love, being together. A lot of people feel they don't have that - they are lonely. Loneliness is something all of us have felt before - and because I understand that feeling, I want to be there for someone who needs to give expression of that feeling.
I expect calls of loneliness, frustration, depression, suicidal. These are calls that I expect - but they are not very different from what we usually get. I just think the amount of calls will increase and I think that the lines are going to be busy.
I am a new counsellor so have not been on the lines before at Christmas time. I am sure however that there are so many lonely people that Lifeline supplies a huge need. Also in terms of Childline it is the time of year when excessive amounts of alcohol are consumed and this can exacerbate problems in the community.
I don’t celebrate Xmas and most of the counsellors do. I assumed it would be difficult to find counsellors to fill the slots on this day and I wanted to make myself available. It will be my first time counselling over this season.
I would expect calls from lonely people who wished they weren’t alone at this time. It must be very hard to be alone while most people are with their friends and families and enjoying the time. I am really hoping I can make a difference and be there for the callers.
I am happy to help out on Christmas and again I have to be forthcoming and say that I am Jewish and do not celebrate Christmas. I am presuming that I might possibly receive calls from people that may not have any family and friends to spend this day with and it may be very lonely for them. ... it is a pleasure for me to be there.
[for me] it’s really about the other 11 months as well and what I get from LifeLine all year round – it’s about what keeps me there, and so even more so during these holidays. LifeLine is a place that reminds me of what is important in life, what is important to me, what makes sense. It’s so easy to get caught up in all the “stuff” out there – the title on our business card, the car we drive, who we’re dating, who we’re not dating .. etc etc etc! And whilst I’m not saying that those things aren’t important – it’s just that what I get from LifeLine and experience during time I spend there puts all of that in perspective for me. It reminds me that beneath the layers, the masks, the “stuff” that we get caught up in – underneath all of that we are all the same. There’s a place in all of us where our dreams live alongside our fears, where our pain is found next to our joy – I think maybe it’s where our souls reside. And it’s the connection with that very thing that reminds me of what is “real”, of what I want my world to be built on, what I need my world to be about. And so how much more so, how much more so at Christmas and New Year... So to be honest, I’ve put my name on the roster for shifts these holidays cause I want to remember … in between getting caught up in the presents under the tree or how much food we can possibly eat in one sitting … I first want to remember … and be reminded … of what counts, of what’s truly important, of what really makes the world go round, of what I need my world to be about ... the real stuff underneath the wrapping paper. I want to remember and I want to be reminded that the most important thing these holidays is where our hearts are … where my heart is.
To the best of my memory I can’t remember the types of calls being that much different from calls during other shifts at other times of the year. The lines seem to be busier especially with regards to Childline – but that’s also typical of school holidays I think.
To be honest I thought of those colleagues with families and children celebrating and going places and I thought that I do not go anywhere most of the holiday season time, and thus it would be of a lesser burden to try and find someone that can do a shift during this period.
I think [there will be calls from] a lot of lonely people, followed closely by those that fight and have arguments over this period. Depressed, as well as older generation, type of callers. |
