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Galloping urbanization, smaller or nuclear families
has increased the isolated lonely feeling. The
increased stress as a result of dearth of support
has at times led to fractured relationships.
During these times, acute need to talk to someone
anonymously and get some reassurance and support is
keenly felt.
The need to find reliable
and assured help in the mental field has further increased
due to elevated stress in daily life, whether at work or at
home, whether urban or rural, irrespective of age, gender or
social strata.
Maitra helpline, attended by scrupulously selected and
trained volunteers who are also regularly monitored and
guided, does the job of a nonjudgmental, empathic good
listener; a faceless friend who will not reject, ridicule or
tell on you- whatever your problem. Working from 9 AM to 9
PM on all working days and from 9 AM - 1 PM on Sundays, it
has received about 22,000 calls till now, of which
approximately 8000 are help calls.
The caller is assured of total anonymity; this allows the
focus on the problem areas and the discussion paves to
jointly searching for the best available solution, instead
of a ready made "perfect" answer (advice).
"Of Human Bonds .Maitra Bonds" The Maitra story has been
written by Ms Sulabha Subramaniam giving details of how the
helpline started, how it functions. It could function as a
manual to start similar helplines. |
