Struggling with Loneliness and Depression in Thuringia's Telephone Counseling Services
The telephone counseling services in Thuringia are grappling with an unprecedented workload. On average, callers need to make ten to twelve attempts to reach the counseling service, a substantial increase from pre-pandemic times. The head of the Erfurt counseling service, Uta Milosevic, noted that as soon as the volunteers hung up, the phone would ring again. Christiane Sachse, head of the East Thuringia telephone helpline, reported similar challenges.
Despite a lack of precise statistics for 2023, both pastoral workers agreed that the trend of previous years had stabilized. In 2022, there were approximately 8,300 calls in Erfurt and 6,500 in East Thuringia. This is significantly higher than the numbers from 2019.
The primary concerns for callers are physical complaints, loneliness, or depressive moods. Current crises such as the war in Ukraine or the energy crisis hardly play a role. A significant proportion of individuals call the counselors repeatedly. As Sachse explained, "For the most part, these are lonely people who often find the telephone counseling service to be their only point of contact."
Approximately one-third of callers mention mental illness during their conversations, and this number has increased in recent years. About five percent also mention suicidal thoughts, and one percent suicidal intentions. Surprisingly, this proportion has remained stable despite the Coronavirus.
Telephone counseling services continue to be recommended by therapists, psychiatrists, and GPs for their patients during the evening and weekend. They are often the only number reachable around the clock, along with the police and emergency services. Milosevic described this responsibility as "a big one. Let’s see how much longer it works."
The search for volunteers is becoming increasingly challenging. "There is a great need, but the work is also very meaningful," said Sachse. Volunteers undergo 120 hours of training and continuous professional development before they can begin, but there's a lack of individuals willing to commit the time required for this vital role. Milosevic is hopeful that negotiations about a psychiatric crisis service in the country may provide relief, with professionals available to help. However, she notes that the fundraising for these night shifts remains a significant challenge.
- The most common reasons for individuals seeking telephone counseling services during the pandemic are loneliness, depression, and mental health concerns.
- The telephone counselors often serve as the only point of contact for individuals who are struggling with their mental health, providing comfort and support when they may feel isolated.
- Demand for telephone counseling services in Thuringia has increased significantly, making it more challenging to maintain a sufficient number of trained volunteers who can provide this vital support.
Enrichment Data:
The increase in demand for psychotherapeutic care, including telephone counseling services, in Thuringia, Germany, during the Coronavirus pandemic is largely driven by several factors. These include pandemic-related stress, anxiety, and loneliness, as well as economic and financial stress. Children and adolescents have also been disproportionately affected by mental health issues during this time. Stigma around mental health still exists, making it important for individuals to seek treatment, but barriers to accessing traditional mental health services further complicate the matter.
[1] "Suicide trends during COVID-19 and policies to protect mental health worldwide by region, sex, and age." The Lancet Psychiatry (2022).
