Everyone knows it always helps to talk about things. Maybe you're feeling lonely
in Paris, or anxious or sad. Perhaps life in the French capitol isn't
all that you thought it would be. Maybe the frustrations of adapting to a
new culture are getting you down. Help – in English -- is at the end of
the phone. SOS Help, Crisis Line in English, is just a phone call away
whether you're worried, confused or just want someone to talk to. Maybe
all you need is some practical information like where to find an
English-speaking doctor, how to work with your local mairie, or where to
get help when you need it. That's what this volunteer community service
organization, now in its 25th year, is all about.
Whatever the problem or question, you can talk
to a friendly listener, anonymously and in confidence, between 3 and 11 p.m. every day by calling 01 47 23 80 80.
If you're lonely, you're like the majority of people who call SOS Help.
Others call because they're depressed. Latest statistics show 50 percent
of the issues discussed were personal (loneliness, sexual), 16 percent
health/depression, 15 percent were about relationships and 9 percent for
information. Economic problems (housing, employment, financial) registered
at 7 percent, and 3 percent of calls were crisis-related (suicide,
alcohol/drugs, rape and violence).
"Some of our calls are from people who call us regularly," says Plum-Le Tan, SOS Help's administrative
director. "We are a part of their support system."
With some 6,000 phone calls a year, SOS Help hears from
a broad cross-section of the English-speaking community in France. The majority of callers (68 percent) are in the 20-39 age range with a further
23 percent in the 40-59 age range, according to SOS Help statistics.
Volunteer listeners hail from Australia, New Zealand,
Canada, America, and Great Britain and Ireland. They share an interest
in the welfare of people and a desire to serve their community. They are
empathetic, non-judgmental, and receive thorough training from
professional psychotherapists including listening skills and specific
topics like bereavement, drug abuse and suicide.
Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, SOS Help got on
its feet with the co-operation and encouragement of many organizations and
individuals – American, British and French, says Plum Le-Tan. The
Samaritans, with hotline and walk-in services throughout Britain,
assisted; as did SOS Amitié, a French crisis line service with five lines
in Paris and 40 others in the provinces. SOS Help is a branch of SOS
Amitié, but functions independently. It also belongs to the worldwide
organization called Befrienders International.
SOS Help is entirely dependent on donations.
Community events bring in the majority of funds to keep the English
language crisis line running. Watch out for SOS Help's, annual fall
booksale, summer tombola, and other events.
"To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we're busy
planning many special events," says Plum Le-Tan. "Supporting
these fundraising events keeps the crisis line in business, and helps us
commemorate our 25th anniversary." You can read more about how you
can help celebrate SOS Help's 25th anniversary in future issues of Paris
Woman's Journal, FUSAC and The Voice.
"We are very proud to have been serving
the English-speaking community in Paris for 25 years and look forward to
the future," says SOS Help's administrative director.
"Remember, SOS Help is as close as your telephone every day -- even
holidays-- from 3 to 11 p.m. "We're waiting to hear from you,
whatever the problem.
SOS Help offers a range of volunteer opportunities from becoming
a listener to helping with fundraising, publicity and management.
Listeners, recruited twice a year in the spring and autumn, receive
thorough and on-going training from a team of professional
psychotherapists. Listeners commit to one afternoon or evening per week
for at least one year.
SOS Help also seeks supporters with skills in
administration, management, corporate fundraising and community liaison
to join its team. "We would welcome your involvement. Come and help
us make our 25th year the most successful ever," says Plum Le-Tan.
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