The WICE Blog is presenting this guest
post to spread awareness of this important service to expats in France.
By
Rachel Mead*
I
first contacted SOS Help – an English-language listening line based in Paris –
to find out about its volunteering opportunities just one year ago, but I feel
it has permanently and positively changed my ideas about listening.
Callers
When
I started the training, I expected that most of the people calling up would be
in crisis and acutely distressed. What I quickly learned was that while the
callers are generally experiencing some form of emotional strain, their reason
for calling and their way of speaking about it varies hugely.
People
call about wide-ranging issues such as loneliness, financial difficulties,
unemployment, difficulties integrating into French life, physical and mental
health concerns, bereavement and relationship difficulties. While it’s true
that the callers are sometimes distraught, even suicidal, they can also simply
want to let off some steam or even treat their particular situation with wry
humor.
The
helpline really is for anyone experiencing any kind of difficult life
experience.
Listeners
SOS
Help is neither a religious nor a political organisation and the other
listeners I have met are from a range of nationalities, ages and backgrounds.
Twice
a year, SOS Help holds recruitment information sessions at The American Church
in Paris for people who live in the Paris region and can commit to at least 15
months with the organisation. They also need to be able to commit to three
shifts and one ongoing training meeting per month.
The next sessions will be held on:
Tuesday,
September 29
Thursday, October 8
Wednesday, October 14
For
people who want to get involved but can’t commit to that length or amount of
time, the organisation also recruits supporters to set up fundraising events,
help with publicity or in the general running of the organisation.
Before
training begins, every listener goes through two interviews: one with an
experienced listener and the other with a professional psychologist to gauge
their suitability for this kind of role.