LIFE LINE: FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

Lifeline provides an opportunity for every person to have the chance to be heard by someone in a completely anonymous way- we don’t need to know who you are and we don’t even wish to.The purpose is for every caller to share that which is bothering them, something they can’t or something that isn’t enough to only share with the people close to them. On the other side of the phone a volunteer awaits that is committed to understand and empathize with the problems, without judgments and without unsolicited advice.

When The Center for Information and Social Improvement was founded in 2016 the main idea was opening a Life Line- an anonymous line especially for people who are in critical moments where they think suicide is the only solution for them. Inspired from the will of psychology students who in the last decade have only just started such an initiative and driven from anger that something as important and as basic as this doesn’t exist in Kosovo, we are pleased to tell you that on 17^th of November, LifeLine will be functional. Every day, from 21:00 PM until 01:00 AM, we’re there for you. Just call us on 0800 12345.

In Kosovo the stigma around mental health is very strong, strong enough for a lot of help requests to be replenished, in the last 20 years there was an average of 3.6 suicide attempts within each week; from these attempts one of them results in suicide every week. It’s an alarming problem, but the bad luck of the victims is that we are collectively ignoring the problem instead of addressing it. Such a stigma makes it impossible to ask for help, and makes the existence of the LifeLine necessary. Something like this was understood as necessary by other states (including the Balkan states). This is still lacking in our country. Precisely because of the reason why creating a LifeLine has been possible is because of the help offered by the European Alliance Against Depression and the Phone Line for suicide prevention in Holland 113.

Often someone who is asking for help is considered to be making a big deal out of their problems, that they’re just passing, or just imaginary. In other cases they don’t even feel free to speak since they’re aware what kind of judgment is accompanied by the circumstances. It’s tragic, but oftentimes the only way someone can talk about the need of help for mental health is done in a hidden way. This is exactly where Life Line comes in- a completely anonymous service.

Since the war against the stigma surrounding mental health still goes on, Lifeline provides an opportunity for every person to have the chance to be heard by someone in a completely anonymous way- we don’t need to know who you are and we don’t even wish to.

The purpose is for every caller to share that which is bothering them, something they can’t or something that isn’t enough to only share with the people close to them. On the other side of the phone a volunteer awaits that is committed to understand and empathize with the problems, without judgments and without unsolicited advice.

The idea is not to offer solutions for the callers problems, or long term changes- that’s a job for professionals of the field, psychologists and psychiatrist. The essence is the deep need we have to feel heard; That we’re not alone in what we’re going through; That in a moment of crisis, where you don’t see another solution except taking your life, to overcome it together, if you think that’s the right step, we’re ready to help you find them.

We’re proud to be able to open something like this and we’re quite ambitious and clear to understand that this is not enough. We are ready to prove that there is a need for such initiatives in Kosovo, which deserve way more support than what is offered. Mental health is no longer something we can hide, or ignore. The time has come to face what is surrounding us, and extend our hand for help.

About the author: Bind Skeja, 24 years old from Pristina, has finished studies in York University for psychology.