Vienna Telephone Counseling Service Heavily Utilized Around Christmas
At Christmas, calls to the Vienna telephone counseling service increase significantly. "Many people have high expectations for the Christmas festival – harmony, love, closeness. When this does not happen, a great inner emptiness arises," says Antonia Keßelring, head of the Vienna telephone counseling service. For some, the "Silent Night" becomes a "terrible night": conflicts arise, loneliness hurts especially, grief and psychological burdens come into focus.
Vienna Telephone Counseling Available Around the Clock – Also via WhatsApp
With these feelings, many contact the free emergency number 142. The trained volunteers listen, take concerns seriously, and provide space for everything that is burdensome. "There are no speaking prohibitions – even at Christmas," emphasizes Keßelring. The goal is for those seeking advice to feel relieved. Afterwards, ways are sought to better cope with the rest of the holiday – for example, through small, achievable wishes and personal rituals.
The Vienna telephone counseling service conducts around 130 conversations daily. The most common topics: loneliness, mental illnesses, and relationship problems. New is that help is also offered via WhatsApp – daily from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. In addition, those seeking advice can contact anonymously and free of charge via email or in the instant chat (4:00 PM to 11:00 PM).
170 Volunteer Counselors in Action
In total, 170 volunteer counselors are in action in Vienna. The initiative is an offer from the Archdiocese of Vienna and the Evangelical Church A.B. Vienna. "Especially at Christmas, many people are particularly vulnerable. Our goal is to support them – with ear and heart," says Keßelring.
Further information at www.erzdioezese-wien.at/telefonseelsorge
(Red)
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