"Telephone for life" does not connect Corona impact on the decrease in counselors October 3, 17:37
"Life Phone" nationwide, which provides consultations by telephone to prevent suicide, is not fully available due to the effects of the new corona virus, in addition to the decrease in volunteer counselors and lack of operating funds. "The telephone of life is the last step to stop suicide, and we need financial and human support, not relying on the goodwill of volunteers," said an expert.
The "Telephone of Life" was called by a German missionary with reference to the telephone consultation for suicide prevention in the United Kingdom, and its activity started in 1971, about 50 years ago.
Currently, about 6,000 volunteers who have undergone specialized training at 50 secretariats nationwide continue to work closely with people who have worries and anxieties, and handle 600,000 consultations annually.
However, according to the "Japan Life Telephone Federation", at least 25% of the prefectures in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Gifu and Mie have been declared since April when the state of emergency was declared due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection. The 13 contact points, which correspond to this, were forced to suspend the reception of consultations for a while.
After that, all the contact points have been reopened, but there are cases where the original shift cannot be maintained and the incoming call cannot be picked up due to the decrease in the number of counselors, the aging of the population, and concerns about the infection of the new corona.
In addition, it is difficult to secure operating funds that rely heavily on donations, and some secretariats are unable to carry out sufficient public relations activities to increase the number of counselors.
Securing Nagasaki counselors is an issue
Securing counselors is also an issue for "Nagasaki Life Phone".
In "Nagasaki Life Phone", trained counselors accept counseling for people who have troubles by phone every day, but the number of counselors, which was about 120 at most, has now decreased to 84. ..
The ideal shift for counselors is four shifts per day, two people, but at least 130 people are needed to maintain it, and it is not uncommon for one person to handle it.
In addition, due to the influence of the new coronavirus, he was forced to suspend activities for about 20 days in August.
To become a counselor, you have to take a year and a half of training that requires a tuition fee of about 60,000 yen.
A female counselor in her 70s, who has been active for 22 years, said, "Activities are a part of my life. I think that listening to the other person's story and thinking together made me connect with the other person on the phone. There are times, and I hope it helps the other person as much as possible. "
On top of that, regarding the fact that one person can handle the consultation due to lack of manpower, "If there are two counselors in the office, we can talk to each other even after hearing a difficult story or when we are depressed because we can not respond well. I want that to happen. "
The operation is subsidized by the prefecture, but most of it is covered by donations.
Shigeyuki Tamura, Executive Secretary of "Nagasaki Life Phone," said, "I can only do a limited amount of work, but I can listen to my accumulated problems so I can talk to you whenever I have a problem."
Searching for activities in various places
The "Telephone of Life" in each region continues to seek to maintain its activities.
Of these, "Hokkaido Life Phone" entrusted the shortage of operating expenses to crowdfunding, and a rock band based in Sapporo cooperated in raising funds by presenting original songs to supporters.
In addition, "Aomori Life Phone" used to have about 80 volunteers at most, but with the aging of the population, it has now decreased to about 40.
The workshop for interested people could not be held as usual due to the influence of the new corona, but we are continuing to seek to secure counselors by holding workshops using the Internet. ..
Expert "Financial and human support system is indispensable"
Professor Yuriko Kawashima of Nihon Fukushi University, who specializes in social welfare, said, "Although SNS can be used as a means to stop suicide, the other tool is that people can feel that people are connected by voice. It is an irreplaceable characteristic, "he said, calling for the need for a life telephone.
In addition, regarding the issue of securing counselors, it is necessary to review the long training period to become counselors and to take care of the counselors' mental health, which continues to be a psychological burden.
Regarding this, Professor Kawashima said, "The telephone of life is the last to be desperately made by people who are connected to their neighbors and their families. The" people "who receive the calls are assets, but they are aging. In addition to the shortage of hands, I think there may be cases where the counselor who hears the problem is having a hard time quitting. "
On top of that, "We do not rely on the goodwill of volunteers for heavy work that affects human life, but we also have a human support system such as financial support to support activities and cooperation with specialized people such as health centers and social welfare councils. It is indispensable. "