Greetings from Archbishop Dr. Christoph Schönborn

“You in the West have millions of people who suffer terrible loneliness and emptiness.  They feel unloved and unwanted.  These people do not hunger in a physical sense, but in a different way.  They know that they are missing something more than money, but they do not know what it is.”  These distressing words of Mother Theresa have not, to this day, diminished in impact.  They continue to describe the tragedy of human poverty in the rich, industrialised world.  Poverty in this case means despair, loneliness, futility, not knowing what to do next. Countless individuals suffer daily – often unnoticed by those close to them.  Some see their escape in suicide.  In this situation, help is urgently required.

For 40 years, the Telephone Counselling Service of Austria has supported those who need this help.  By dialling the free-of-charge telephone number 142, they can always contact someone day and night who is there to support them and to listen to their problems.  Listening can be healing, as hundreds of volunteer telephone counsellors can confirm day in, day out.  In today’s hectic times, there are less and less people willing to take the time to listen and take seriously the problems and despair of others.

I am happy indeed that some 800 experts and professionals from many countries in the world are coming to the IFOTES Congress in Vienna in July 2010 to seek advice and share common experiences.  The theme of the Congress this year is “Violence”.  The headlines in the media report daily on aggression and violence experienced in the family, at work, between social groups and nations.  Thus the pressing question:  How can we diminish and avoid violence?  How can we escape the spiral of violence?  Listening and understanding is an important first step to better cooperation and being there for one another.  If people can be relieved of their loneliness, desperation and depression, a decisive step towards a more hopeful world will be taken.  
For these important and indispensable tasks, I thank the many hundred volunteer counsellors of the Telephone Counselling Service in Austria and wish you a stimulating exchange of experience with the many professionals and experts attending the IFOTES Congress 2010 in Vienna.

My prayers are with you and I remain, with the wish for many blessings,

Yours sincerely,

Christoph Kard. Schönborn
Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church, Vienna

 

Greetings from Bishop Dr. Michael Bünker

I wish you a warm welcome to the IFOTES Congress in Vienna!

As the Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Austria I take special pleasure in the fact that you have chosen to come to Vienna to hold this Congress for the volunteer members of IFOTES.

In Austria, we live in an especially ecumenical situation:  50 years ago, the Ecumenical Council of the Church was established in which the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant Churches have joined to work together. The Churches are seen to work together in open co-operation in many different areas. One case in point is the counselling provided by the Telephone Emergency Service which has been operating in Austria for more than 40 years. The Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches provide the main support for this service which has been established in each of Austria’s nine provinces. Support of almost 1,000 volunteer staff is thus an important facet of the ecumenical activity in our country. I am convinced that the joint witness and service provided by the Telephone Emergency Service in responding to today’s challenges and problems fulfills the mission that Jesus Christ gave to his Church.

May all the participants in the IFOTES Congress experience the blessing that has been promised by His mission.  

With my warmest wishes,

Michael Bünker
Bishop of the Lutheran Protestant Church

 

Greetings from Mag.^a Barbara Prammer, President of the National Assembly

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Daily problems, loneliness, mental disorders are the most common causes for people to contact the telephone counselling service.  Those who call are often confronted with violence in many ways.  Whether it is physical, psychic, social, economic or sexual violence – all forms of aggression lead to the loss of self esteem and the inviolability of human life which reduces the self respect of the individual.  It is infinitely important that these victims not be left alone – and those who answer the phone in the telephone counselling service are the critical first contact point.

Eighty per cent of these counsellors are women.

And two-thirds of those who call are women.

Sometimes it is women who are victims of aggression within their own four walls and who have never talked to anyone about their problems since they are unaware that domestic violence is a widespread problem and that, during the course of their lives, one in four women will be confronted with violence at least once in the relationship with their partner.

Often it is sexually abused girls and women, who feel completely alone, who look within themselves for the mistake and who have come to believe that they are responsible for having incited the perpetrator of the violence – who feel guilty and ashamed for what was done to them – women whose personality has been deeply wounded, who suffer mental trauma, the results of which heal very slowly.

Your reaction to these calls is especially significant.  For the manner in which these people are received establishes the basis for dealing with their traumatic experiences on a continuing basis and, most importantly, how much more further treatment will be accepted.

Immanuel Kant said “Not being able to see separates one from objects.  Not being able to hear separates one from people.”  All of you are not only able to hear, you also have the important talent to be able to listen.  An ability that, I believe, has been lost by many – or else was never learned.  Thereby lies a reason why many conversations are no longer dialogues - only alternating monologues in the presence of others.

The ability to listen to others with empathy, together with social and emotional engagement, is the basis for your valuable activity.  Furthermore, these qualities must serve as the basis of our society, if we wish to continue to live in a democratic manner.

 "Listen for Peace – through the Discovery of Alternatives to Violence" – is the Motto of the IFOTES-Congress 2010.  I wish you much success in this venture – every individual step that leads to a less violence-prone society is important and valuable.

I am pleased that the Congress will make your work – especially that of the many volunteers amongst you – more visible and honoured.  Be assured of my deepest respect for this demonstration of active solidarity on behalf of society.

Sincerely,

Barbara Prammer
President of the National Assembly

 

 

Greetings from Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer

Ladies and gentlemen,

On the occasion of the IFOTES Congress 2010 I would like to express to you my acknowledgement of the important, responsible work that you perform.

There are primary principles of telephone counselling that motivate so many people to seek help from you every day: Trustworthiness, Confidentiality, Ideology-free, Accessability comprise the principles by which such help is provided free of cost.

Again and again I am deeply impressed by the impact of the volunteer work that I see. The 600 - 800 volunteer and 25 full-time telephone counselling staff are vivid proof of the effect of solidarity in action.

When you hold the International Congress for Telephone Emergency Service in Vienna you will have the opportunity to exchange views and learn from the wide range of experience of the participants. The importance of competent discussion leading is clearly demonstrated in such topics as the Prevention of Violence and of Suicide. A large measure of empathy and psychological subject knowledge must be practiced to provide the support to those seeking assistance. The additional training provided to reinforce the basic knowledge of the volunteer staff further demonstrates the professional approach followed by the Telephone Emergency Service.

In choosing the motto „Listening for peace“, the Congress has indicated the importance of active listening as a means of prevention. The programme of the Congress which, in addition to lectures on the prevention of violence includes thematic workshops indicates that specialized subject knowledge will be used. To this end, I wish you success and an especially fruitful exchange of views with my European colleagues. I would also like to express my thanks to the European Emergency Telephone Services for their valuable contribution to the prevention of violence.

Sincerely,

Rudolf Hundstorfer
Minister for Social Affairs

 

Greetings from Minister Alois Stöger

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Coping with difficult situations in life can prove to be an insurmountable hurdle for some people.  When a solution to personal problems seems out of reach and hopelessness prevails, it is time for competent, empathetic help.

The cost-free emergency number 142 provides quick, unbureaucratic access to telephone counselling.  Professionally-trained voluntary counsellors are available around the clock, providing information, advice, consolation, encouragement or simply a listening ear.  Telephone Emergency Service is a blessing for both those affected and the entire country.

The quality of Austria’s Telephone Emergency Service is also recognized internationally.  Therefore it is no surprise that the IFOTES – International Federation of Telephone Emergency Services – is convening its 18th Congress from 10 to 14 July 2010 in Austria.  Over one thousand volunteer counsellors from 20 countries are expected to exchange views of emergency telephone counselling, to discuss social challenges and also to enjoy Austrian hospitality.

I am deeply impressed by the involvement of the Telephone Emergency Service and its achievements on behalf of society.

I wish the IFOTES-Congress much success, lively discussions and new impulses for the future.

Alois Stöger

Minister of Health.

 

Greetings from Mayor Dr. Michael Häupl

Vienna is renowned for its large offer of social, medical and counselling services for the well-being of everyone who lives here. A dense service network has emerged in the past few decades and is available for all the people who live in Vienna irrespective of their background and income. I am sure that many other cities would be happy to provide their citizens with the same type of service network. The City of Vienna, however, does not fund all services but cooperates closely with the Catholic and Protestant churches in this area. We are able to offer high-quality emotional support services thanks to the large number of institutions in the city, such as the Austrian Telephone Counselling Service, that focus on promoting mental health and helping anyone suffering from loneliness, anguish or despair. Preventing suicides is still one of the main aims of emotional support services but today they also focus on alleviating “everyday” problems. Experience has shown that a large number and all kinds of people call the Telephone Counselling Service and benefit from the opportunity of genuine exchange and finding an attentive listener.

The committed staff of the Austrian Telephone Counselling Service work voluntarily and considerably contribute to an active civil society that has become ever more important in times of economic crisis and a changing social climate. I am very pleased to assume the patronage of the IFOTES Congress and would like to wish everyone involved a lot of energy and creativity for your valuable work.

Dr. Michael Häupl
Mayor of the city Vienna