UPDATE: During the pilot phase in 2023, 1’064 calls were received during the daily opening hours from 6 pm to 11 pm. The Dargebotene Hand is pleased that with Heart2Heart also people can be reached who do not speak a national language.
Compared to the German line, the callers to Heart2Heart are younger and more men. Mental illness is a topic in half of the conversations, often even serious ones. Suicide is a topic in every twelfth call.
Heart2Heart will continue in 2024 and can be reached daily from 6 pm to 11 pm on 0800 143 000. It remains important that English speaking persons in Switzerland are aware of this service. We would therefore be grateful if you could continue to draw attention to Heart2Heart. Flyers and posters can still be ordered. Check out some more statistics at this link.
The launch in 2023
Since January 2023, Heart2Heart launched an English-speaking hotline throughout Switzerland. This is a new branch of the emergency service for telephone number 143: La Main Tendue. Tel 143 is one of the best-known contact points for emotional first aid in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein and offers empathetic conversations with trained listeners. This service is free of charge, anonymous, and confidential.
Matthias Herren explained to knowitall.ch, "At Heart2Heart no topic is too big or small – we are here to listen to people's concerns, support them in a crisis, or share their good news. We are pleased to have trained English-language volunteers over the last year to be able to try out this new section. All the other 3 official Swiss languages are represented but we felt it necessary to reach out to those that are more comfortable speaking in English, especially in times of turmoil."
From January 2023, the new English line will be called "Heart2Heart", and can be reached daily from 6pm to 11pm through the toll free number 0800 143 000. Those needing to talk about depression, relationship issues, sadness, mental distress, pandemic worries, suicidal thoughts, loneliness, exciting news of any sort, or any other subject where they need have someone listen, are welcome to call the hotline.
Please pass this information along to your friends, colleagues, and neighbors as there are many people who do not know this service is available.
