In the guard room at Lillehammer, Maren is ready for a new day. The 22-year-old from Bergen is studying social work at Høgskolen i Innlandet, but right now she is volunteering for the Church’s SOS. They are one of several voluntary organizations that offer conversations over the phone and chat for those who need someone to talk to. – I know that I am not a psychologist or someone who will fix problems in the long term, but I am here, here and now, she says. At the other end there are many despondent people. Some have heartbreak, others feel lonely. Someone has thoughts about ending their life. – Alvorsgrada increases Every four years, around 300,000 people contact the Church’s SOS. The head of Innlandet, Hilde Stokke Lothe, says that inquiries on chat are increasing in particular. Nationally, they had 31 per cent more chat conversations in 2021 than the year before. There, it is mostly young people aged 10–20 who make contact. Last year, the number of inquiries increased by over 10,000 from the previous year. Lothe says that the level of seriousness in the conversations is also increasing. Around half of the conversations on chat last year were about suicidal thoughts: “I have no value anymore”. “It is important that they remind me that life actually ends if I kill myself.” – In 2021, 39 young people between the ages of 0-19 and 86 young people between the ages of 20 and 29 took their own lives. This corresponds to four full classrooms of young people. It underlines the importance that we are present and that we have the volunteers who share their time with others every day, all year round. SERIOUSNESS: Manager at the Church’s SOS Innlandet Hilde Stokke Lothe says that the level of seriousness in the conversations is increasing. Photo: Aleksandr Nedbaev / news Concerns about the increased costs are also recurring: “Things are starting to get better, but now it has peaked again because of the economy. Know that the shame is so great that it is easy to think the “darkest” thoughts”. Someone called and said that they said no thanks to the Christmas celebration in order to “let go of the shame of not being able to afford gifts or be able to contribute”. Venting after tough conversations Although the conversations about suicide are some of the toughest, Maren thinks they are the most important. – When you talk and manage to find some bright spots that make the conversation end with them seeing that things can get better – then I feel that it has been important that I have been there for them, says the 22-year-old. BRIGHT POINT: Maren thinks it is rewarding to be able to contribute to people seeing some bright spot. PHOTO: ALEKSANDER NEDBAEV / news The volunteers have access to several resources that will help them rework and deal with the most difficult conversations. The most important thing is that they are never alone on duty. In the guard room at Lillehammer, 68-year-old Aage is also in place. He chose to become a volunteer when he retired – and had more time to be a fellow human being. HOPE: Aage thinks it is meaningful to be able to give people hope. He thinks it’s nice that the volunteers always talk to each other and can vent after a conversation. Photo: Aleksandr Nedbaev / news Aage says that the work gives many impressions. – We who are on duty are people with feelings, and we feel sorry for those who have such a difficult time. Even if some conversations are difficult to have, Aage believes that it is worth it. – We have a wish that someone who is hopeless can become hopeful. That someone experiencing darkness can see some glimmers of light that make them want to live on. INCREASE: The number of people making contact via chat at Kirkens SOS is increasing. PHOTO: ALEKSANDER NEDBAEV / news More students make contact Mental Health has also experienced an increase in the number of inquiries from people who need to talk to someone about mental health problems. Last year they received 374,000 inquiries. That is an increase of 25,000 from 2021. – We have never had so many inquiries at Mental Health’s helpline as last year, says daily manager of the Helpline Aslaug Timland Dale. They report on their pages that more students have contacted them than before. We know that many students find it difficult. After two years of the pandemic, it is now, among other things, the economy that worries students, it says. – In 2022, we had an increase of 15 per cent compared to the previous year on our black nest for students. This is an important offer where students can make contact both by phone and chat when everything else is closed, says Timland Dale. GREATER REPRESENTATION: Men are also more highly represented now than before. – It is very gratifying, especially as we know that boys and young men are unfortunately the ones with the highest suicide statistics. For the Helpline, 34 per cent of those who make contact are men, compared to 33 per cent in 2021. The chat has increased from 22 per cent boys and men to 26 per cent, says Aslaug Timland Dale. Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / news Reddar liv Adrian Lorentsson is head of communications at Mental Health Youth. They offer a chat service for young people between the ages of 18 and 36. Since the chat service was started three years ago, they have received over 7,000 inquiries. Unlike most other such services, this one has no time limit. This means that they can be there at any time for those who make contact. – We have discovered that people have been in the middle of a suicide attempt in the chat. It has given us a unique opportunity to be able to help people in a very difficult life situation where they are, says Lorentsson. UNIQUE: Lorentsson says that their chat service provides a unique opportunity to help young people where they are. Photo: Roy Kenneth S Jacobsen / news Mental Health Youth has its own notification system in such cases and cooperates with the police. It also happens that they get feedback from the police: “Thank you for the notification. They helped save a life tonight.” Tenesta is run by over 100 volunteers spread around the country. – He is an absolutely wonderful person with all possible kinds of life experiences. They are very talented people who have a big heart and a very strong commitment to young people who are having a hard time, says the communications manager. These can be contacted if you need someone to talk to. Here is an overview of some of the various low-threshold services if you need someone to talk to: Church SOS. Call 22 40 00 40, or write to soschat.no or meldinger.kirkens-sos.no The Red Cross’s service Cross on the neck is for you under the age of 18. Telephone: 800 333 21. Write or chat on the website korspaahalsen.rodekors.no Mental Health Helpline. Call 116 123 or write to sidetmedord.no Mental Health Youth. Aimed at young adults aged 18-36. Online chat service Monday to Friday from 18.00-21.00: www.mhu.no. The emergency telephone for children and young people. A free phone for children and young people who are exposed to violence, abuse and neglect. Telephone 116 111.
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Several contact the help services – Maren at the Church’s SOS Innlandet answers – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
