Description
There is a sensitive issue in the society, that is overlooked in the prevention programs, but exploited by media: suicide. On one hand, depression, psycho-emotional imbalances and socioeconomic problems present high suicidal degree. On the other hand, helpline services are not supported or promoted as an alternative of prevention. The aim of the project is to increase the capacity to select, train and involve the volunteers in order to extend the area of intervention of the helpline service in 7 counties in north – eastern and central Romania. The project will achieve the specialization of 36 volunteers; the software for the helpline counseling; the expanding of the geographical area of helpline intervention in the counties: Alba, Bacău, Covasna, Harghita, Iași, Mureș, Vaslui. The project beneficiaries will be: 36 volunteers, youngsters and people with depression and/or suicidal risk; the families of the persons affected by depression, 303 schools and 8 prisons.
Summary of project results
The official statistics estimate that only 25% of the persons that try to commit suicide reach a public hospital; the majority of these cases remain undiscovered. In order to tackle this issue the promoter strengthened through the project a helpline for youth which are in psychological crisis and/or think about suicide. Before the project was implemented, Sf. Damian Association had involved 13 volunteers in suicide prevention activities. Through this project, a team of 51 volunteers was created and the area of helpline services was nationally extended. Volunteers participated in training classes and provided counselling services for people that solicited help through „I choose to live!” programme. The monthly average of helpline calls was 288. People in need have four different ways to communicate with helpline counsellors, which were promoted through an awareness campaign on
www.alegsatraiesc.ro. The helpline service is the first one in the country to open an online application available on the site. To ensure quality of the volunteers’ work helpline activities are organized in a properly equipped office with special software and equipment to answer the calls. The impact is tangible, the current project ensuring a higher accessibility and addressability for potential beneficiaries and people in need. The initial objective of the project was to extend the intervention area of helpline services in 7 main cities (where the suicide attempts are above national average) and to extend the counselling programme from 8 hours to 16 hours a day. Through the project, the helpline service was made available in 6 new counties from the North-East and Center of Romania: Alba, Bacău, Covasna, Harghita, Mureș, Vaslui; at the moment, it has national coverage. One of the volunteers states that „With every case solved I become more attached with the status of First line volunteers”.
Summary of bilateral results