© dpa
Help lines expect a significant increase in calls over the Christmas holidays.
The Silbertelefon (Silver Phone), an anonymous and free telephone service for people aged 60 and over, receives around 20 per cent more calls at this time of year, as the Silbernetz e.V. association reported in response to a dpa enquiry. Experience has also shown that the Muslim counselling hotline receives a slightly higher volume of calls, according to the Mutes association.
Among the most common concerns on the Silbertelefon are the need to simply talk, physical discomfort and loneliness. "The topics of the conversations over the festive period hardly differ from the topics in the other months, but the feelings are often felt even more strongly over the holidays," said Silbernetz spokesperson Amira Mahdi. According to her, the Silver Phone rang around 5,000 times between Christmas and New Year last year.
"We often have people on the line who haven't spoken to anyone for several days," reports Mahdi. This is more pronounced over the holidays, as public life is quiet and shops are closed. For many callers, the silver network replaces the family. According to the association, more than 172,000 calls were received by the silver telephone by the end of November 2024. Around 80 per cent of callers were women. During the public holidays, trained staff and volunteers are available around the clock. Last year, 20 per cent of calls were received between 10 pm and 8 am.
The Muslim helpline is often about interpersonal relationships. The trained Muslim volunteers can be contacted by anyone with any concerns, according to the organisation. By the end of November, the organisation had received 4,740 calls and the feedback was consistently positive. People have the opportunity to discuss their issues anonymously and at a low threshold around the clock.
The crisis chat, which is aimed at children, adolescents and young adults up to the age of 25, is also intended to be low-threshold. Psychosocial specialists such as psychologists, psychotherapists and sociologists are available there. On average, around 160 people contact the Crisis Chat staff every day via WhatsApp or text message, according to a spokesperson for the initiative.
It is often about self-harming behaviour, suicidal tendencies, family conflicts and depressive symptoms. Loneliness and disputes within the family play a greater role during the festive season. By the end of November, there had been around 41,000 counselling sessions. All services are free and anonymous. "The festive season is a particularly challenging time for many people, when loneliness and social isolation often become even more noticeable," said Michaela Engelmeier, Chairwoman of the German Social Association (SoVD). "Services such as crisis helplines and contact points in emergency situations do indispensable work here."