More about Befriending

Befriending  is love - in its simplest and purest form. It is this love that heals and restores to callers their dignity, confidence and self-esteem. Befriending takes place when a suicidal person interacts with a volunteer - through visits, telephone or letters. During befriending, callers get a chance to ventilate their feelings to the volunteer who will give them undivided attention. The caller can contact the centre freely, they are not required to give volunteers either contributions or gratitude.

The aim of befriending is to support callers as they face their difficulties and to share their pain by demonstrating acceptance, empathy and care.

The essential nature of befriending is that a volunteer responds to a suicidal person as a friend, on an equal level, with unconditional, uncritical acceptance and respect. 

Befriending does not limit callers' freedom. Callers are offered simple, uncomplicated emotional support and remain free to make their own decisions, reject help, break contact and even move on with their decisions about ending life.

Befriending is not forced. Volunteers do not intrude on the person who have sought Centre's help. A person who contacted once is not sought after. 

What Befriending is not:  Befriending is not counselling, neither is it a substitute for medical treatment or specialised help.