Press release -
New channels for duty priest reach young people
Young people prefer to contact the duty priest digitally Photo: Magnus Aronson.
The number of calls to the duty priest at the Church of Sweden have increased compared to 2013 – from an average of 190 calls per night to 215. Also, the duty priest has had an average of almost 10 chat conversations per night and received an average of 1.5 emails per 24-hour period in the new channels that were opened on 1 September in order to reach younger people.
By the end of the year, around 78,000 telephone calls from an equal number of men and women will have been received by the duty priest via the Swedish SOS Alarm number 112, an increase of around 10% compared to last year. Around 40 calls each night come from people with such intense anxiety and worry that there is a risk it will become life-threatening if they do not talk to someone. An average of 8–9 calls a night are about acute crises or thoughts of suicide.
“The duty priest fulfils an incredibly important function in our society, not least during Advent, when we get more calls than during the Christmas period itself,” says Monica Eckerdal, coordinator for the duty priest.
“Advent is a tough time for those who worry a great deal about Christmas. There are so many expectations ahead of the Christmas season, and with several holidays in a row it can also be a burden, for example, for those who do not have anyone to share Christmas with. What is a bonus for those who are part of a community can be incredibly hard to bear for those outside it,” says Monica Eckerdal.
Few young people contact the duty priest by phone. As young people communicate via the internet, since 1 September, the Church of Sweden has focused on two digital channels so that young people – and deaf people – can get in touch with the duty priest in times of crisis. All three channels – phone, chat and email (see below) – are available as usual over the coming holidays.
“We are already seeing young people turning to the new channels, especially the chat service,” says Monica Eckerdal.
Categories
- church of sweden
- duty priest
- chat service
- help line
- anxiety
- suicide
- internet
Duty priest is a service offered jointly by the parishes of the Church of Sweden, with clergy from various parts of Sweden. Anyone can get in touch, regardless of faith or ethnic background, and anonymity is assured.
The chat service can be reached via svenskakyrkan.se/jourhavandeprast, Monday-Thursday, 8 pm–12 midnight. There is also the opportunity to send an email, which is answered within 24 hours. Nothing of what is written is saved, and the priest is also obliged to observe strict confidentiality online. The telephone help line is open every night from 9 pm to 6 am and can be reached via 112 (SOS Alarm). Calls are free of charge.
