– The shooting this summer hit the queer community hard. An incredible number of people were afraid to be themselves after the terrorist attack, says Fay Wildhagen. She therefore posted a post on Instagram, in which she said that she stood up if anyone needed to talk. Wildhagen received hundreds of messages from people who needed someone to talk to. Photo: SCREEN DUMP The response to the post was much greater than Wildhagen had thought. She received hundreds of messages from people who needed someone to talk to about orientation, identity and mental health: – I spent much of the summer answering everyone. But I only answered on behalf of myself and my experiences. After all, I had no other expertise than my own experience as a queer. Wildhagen felt an urge to help, and wanted to learn how she could do this in the best possible way. To talk to someone who understands She therefore became a volunteer in Ungdomstelefonen, a telephone and chat service run by Skeiv Ungdom. Artist Fay Wildhagen noticed a huge response after she said she was there if anyone needed someone to talk to after the mass shooting this summer. Photo: Johanna Siring The Government has now proposed to cut the earmarked support in next year’s state budget. The consequence is that the telephone will be shut down in January. That shocks Wildhagen: – It’s so strange, after everything that happened this summer. Talking to someone else who has been there themselves. And who remembers exactly how things feel, how it feels to feel different. It is vital! I don’t understand how the government can cut this and risk the offer being closed? After the Oslo shooting this summer, the Government proposed to increase support for queer organizations by NOK 15 million in next year’s budget. Now, despite this, they are cutting the earmarked support for Ungdomstelefonen, which means that they are facing a very uncertain future: – The removal means that we have no money to run Ungdomstelefonen from 1 January until we may get yes on applications. As a small organisation, we depend on knowing that we will get money to run the offer, explains Ramstad. Marlen Ramstad from Skeiv Ungdom is crystal clear: the aid offer must be closed in January if the government does not change course. Photo: Skeiv Ungdom The offer is run with close to 30 volunteers, who answer the phone, chat and messages for four hours in the evening from Sunday to Thursday. Last week, the Ministry of Health and Social Care replied to news that Skeiv Ungdom could apply for the grant scheme with a deadline of 1 December. This application scheme was created due to the cuts in the budget, and was intended, among other things, to ensure that organizations could receive the support to maintain operations if they were cut. The problem is that this scheme will not be possible for Ungdomstelefonen to apply for, because they fall outside the application criteria. news has gained access to a letter from the Directorate of Health to Queive Youth in which it is emphasized that the Youth Telephone does not have an application deadline of 1 December, and that Queive Youth must therefore wait to apply until the new arrangements are in place. – It is only after we in Skeiv Ungdom have said that the department says that they do not know when the application deadline is or which grant items the Youth Helpline can apply for, explains Ramstad. Most of them are children under the age of 18. At the beginning of September, Queiv Ungdom submitted a report on the Youth Hotline to Culture and Equality Minister Anette Trettebergstuen (Ap). The report shows, among other things, that 7 percent of the conversations are about suicide and suicidal thoughts, and in 2021 77 percent of the users were under 18 years of age. – Being able to train the volunteers to handle such extremely difficult conversations is one of the most important things you can do, says Marlen Ramstad from Skeiv Ungdom. The report that Skeiv Ungdom presented in September shows a growing need for the Youth Telephone. Photo: news Even it took time before Wildhagen was able to be properly proud of who she is, which is the reason why she wants to volunteer: – I needed security and openness to stand firm in who I am. This is exactly what I want to give to those who contact Ungdomstelefonen. Wants open processes Last year, Ungdomstelefonen received NOK 850,000, after having received NOK 750,000 in recent years. – We and the volunteers are not asking for more money, nor are we dependent on an ear tag. But we must have predictability, Ramstad elaborates. Two months before 2023, the scheme Skeiv Ungdom must apply for does not exist, and from 1 January they must stop operating the telephone if the government does not turn around. – We cannot guarantee anything for any organisations. The budget is being considered in the Storting, while the Ministry of Health and Care is working on updating the regulations, replies State Secretary Ellen Rønning-Arnesen (Ap). Ellen Rønning-Arnesen believes that the doubling of the grant to Queive organizations will benefit Queive Youth, but understands that the uncertainty is difficult. Photo: Stortinget Rønning-Arnesen explains that they want open application processes where everyone who applies will receive a reasoned refusal and a reasoned grant. This does not provide earmarked grants, and they therefore want to limit the use of such grants. She explains that this year’s budget had to be tightened, where every penny counts: – We fully understand that 750,000 is a lot for Skeiv Ungdom, and hope that they, like everyone else, pay close attention to the various schemes that are there and are open. Both the Minister of Health and Care and the Minister of Culture and Equality believe that the queer organizations do an important job. The day after the London shooting, thousands laid down rainbow flags and flowers at London pubs. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news But if this is important to you, why is the grant cut, which has the consequence that Ungdomstelefonen has to close down operations? – We understand that Skeiv Ungdom needs predictability, but in a tight budget it has to be cut in some places, replies Rønning-Arnesen (Ap). She further explains that the Ministry of Health and Care is working to accommodate new application schemes, but since the legislation imposes a six-week application deadline for grants, it is uncertain when the Youth Helpline can apply and perhaps receive support. – The government cannot possibly understand the consequences Wildhagen and Skeiv Ungdom now hope that the government will turn around and that she will be allowed to continue working as a volunteer at the Youth Telephone. – The expertise I gained here through lectures and a network from Skeiv Ungdom is absolutely necessary. You cannot do this alone, says Wildhagen. Rønning-Arnesen (Ap) points out that the Ministry of Health and Care recognizes and sees the work Queiv Ungdom and Ungdomstelefonen do: – The government is increasing support for queer organizations considerably, and this will benefit Queiv Ungdom. We see the good work they are doing, and moving to application-based schemes instead of earmarked support will not change this. From this year’s pride celebration. Photo: Erland Knutsen / news Ramstad from Queive Youth does not think the Government understands the consequences of the changes they are making: – The youth telephone helps thousands of queer young people from all over the country. For us, it is completely incomprehensible that this offer should be downgraded, despite a tight budget. The government cannot possibly understand the consequences of this.
ttn-69
Fay Wildhagen shocked by helpline cuts – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
