A Vital Part of Mental Health

Help lines are a vital part of the mental health field and provide a service to those most in need of counseling. They’re a link between a person in crisis and those who can help navigate the murky waters while guiding callers to a safer thought process. These lines are manned by personnel with extensive training and who remain calm and level-headed when the voice on the other end is agitated, frightened, unsure or desperate. Often, by the time a caller has reached out to a help line, circumstances have already become overwhelming and sometimes dangerous. It’s critical that those who are there to answer those calls can quickly assess the state of mind and whether or not further steps should be taken to protect not only the caller, but others who might be at risk. Whether or not there are diagnosed mental disorders or conditions, each of us have had those blue moments and feelings of being misunderstood. For many, these moments and thoughts go beyond normal feelings we experience. It’s usually at this point most reach out for help. The availability of help lines are have prevented untold tragedies and those who contribute to the success of these avenues find satisfaction in knowing they’ve played a small role in another’s life simply by listening and providing encouragement and guidance. The anonymity of these lines enable callers to feel safe enough to discuss situations they might not otherwise be able to do in a face to face conversation with friends or family. And, too, many feel as though those around them play a role in the way they’re feeling. Job losses or fears of job loss, divorce, death, children growing up and moving away; these are all triggers that can put the wheels in motion for these feelings of despair. The problem is one out of twelve will develop disorders as a result of attempting to deal with the event. These disorders can be mild or can progress into serious problems that affect one’s quality of life. Not intended to replace traditional counseling, these avenues are meant to provide the caller a bit of reassurance and encouragement to follow through with a few counseling sessions. Still, the professionals who are waiting to hear from callers are educated and experienced and are there because of a sincere desire to help callers. Although still widely used, the traditional three a.m. phone call has a new look. Technologies such as instant messaging, chat programs and even computer cameras have provided even more tools to provide better guidance to callers around the world. And too, with the lack of medical insurance, courtesy of a weak economy and record job losses, a help line is often the only resource available to many. This is presenting a quagmire of sorts since a counselor on the other end of a phone line is hindered by distance from those who are in serious jeopardy of bringing physical harm to themselves or even others. Help lines aren’t intended to replace traditional counseling, but it appears to be doing just that for so many. For more information on counseling, visit http://counselingmicroblog.com and http://helplinemicroblog.com