The Chinese have always felt it a pleasure to help others, and in traditional society personal relations were close and warm. If someone was not a relative, then he was a friend. In times of trouble, it was easy to find help.

In a modern industrial society, however, populations are concentrated in cities, and human relations have become cold and distant. Those who feel this most are those who have left the countryside to seek a living in the city. In times of trouble they have no friends or relatives to turn to. They need some one who is concerned about his fellow man. To meet this need, several aid organizations have been formed, including Lifeline, which provides a 24 hour a day service by telephone.

Lifeline was created in 1963 by an Australian, Dr. Alan Walker, to help those in danger or trouble. In his job as a minister, Walker found there were many people who needed help to overcome loneliness and despair, and he decided to start a "Lifeline" which could help them. Currently there are 210 Lifelines in 12 countries around the world, which provide help to people who phone in.

The first Lifeline in the Republic of China was set up in 1969, by Mackay Hospital. Gradually, Lifelines were organized all over the island, until today there are 12.

Doctors, nurses and social workers at Mackay Hospital realized that although they could often save the lives of would-be suicide victims, they did not even come close to understanding their inner motives. Nurses and social workers talked with patients to find why they wanted to die and then contacted their families to try to solve the problems. In 1967, Mackay Hospital established a suicide prevention center staffed by doctors, nurses, social workers, and volunteers. Two years later, they started Lifeline to extend their programs.

Lifeline helps in four ways: by mail, by telephone, in group discussions, and in private consultations. Volunteers are all aged over 25, high school graduates, and dedicated to serving society. Among them are teachers, public servants, housewives, and businessmen. Before they can start work at Lifeline they must undergo six months of intensive training, which includes aptitude tests, courses on aid techniques and methods, and practical training.

Lifeline is a totally volunteer organization, and all supplies are paid for with contributions or donations. Every year, members are requested to pay a fee according to their means. They also choose a management board whose members select a chairman, and execute their decisions through a committee.

If mental illness is involved, Lifeline can call on a panel of professional volunteers. Expert help is also available for people with social, psychological, educational, legal, nursing, medical, or religious problems.

When someone calls in, Lifeline's first job is to listen and make the caller feel accepted. If at this most critical time, the caller feels he is being judged or doubted he will probably feel rejected and any chance the two parties have of establishing a meaningful relationship will be damaged. Only after the caller has calmed down will volunteers ask questions or discuss the problem, and later, propose solutions. Not all calls represent a crisis, however. Some callers merely want to tell someone how they feel or get something off their chest. Others are just looking for someone to talk to. In these cases, it is best just to listen carefully and let the caller talk.

When callers are contemplating suicide, however, the volunteers must be careful. They must sound sympathetic and try to strengthen the caller's will to live. They must also try to keep the caller on the line so he can be traced. Last year, Lifeline received 2,000 calls from people who were apparently serious in their suicide threats.

Lin Chung-i who started work at Lifeline in 1969, has been there longer than anyone else. He said he obtained great satisfaction from helping others even before he joined Lifeline. Pan Cheng-chia joined the service 10 years ago after a friend of his committed suicide and he felt helpless to prevent it. He feels the many aid techniques he has learned, such as understanding the callers' emotional states, listening carefully, and giving the correct replies have been useful in his everyday life. He also feels confident he could help someone, who, like his friend was thinking of suicide. Many times Pan has considered leaving Lifeline because of conflicts with his work and the considerable time Lifeline takes up. But he finds it difficult to abandon such rewarding work and instead has found a way to carefully balance his time.

In our industrial society, because personal relations have been severed, it is impossible to avoid feelings of emotional imbalance at times. Despite the many people trying to fight the competitive feeling of an industrial society, human relations remain distant and cold. Still, there are many people who have found satisfaction in their own lives and who in turn have started to help others, strengthening human relations and giving society some balance.

These people have spent a lot of time helping other people to get through times of trouble and difficulty. In so doing, they have not only helped others and society as a whole, but have helped themselves too. From their experience gained in helping others, they have grown stronger and wiser. Truly, when we help others we receive more than we give.

[Picture Caption]

1) Volunteers at work helping others. 2) During consultations, volunteers meet callers face-to-face.

Besides helping others, volunteers must send out notices for meetings.

Volunteers at work helping others.

During consultations, volunteers meet callers face-to-face.

Besides helping others, volunteers must send out notices for meetings.