Senior Citizen Line recorded three times more calls in 2021

Seniors were most often prompted to call the crisis helpline by mental health problems and loneliness. With the advent of the pandemic, much more has changed on the Seniors Helpline 800 200 007 - callers have begun turning to the Crisis Intervention Team with questions related to government regulations, vaccinations, and fear of illness or death of a loved one.

"The increase in the incidence of reported mental health problems is literally alarming, as is the significant increase in callers talking about loss of meaning in life and suicidal thoughts or calling at the moment of a suicide attempt," says Kateřina Bohatá, Head of the Senior Citizens' Helpline.

Depression and other mental health problems were the subject of 2 326 calls in 2021. A year earlier, there were 722 calls. Loneliness of seniors remains one of the most frequent topics, which was the subject of 5,092 calls. Calls in which seniors mentioned suicidal thoughts increased significantly, rising from 154 to 322 calls in 2021.

The epidemic has brought a number of challenges to the Senior Helpline - the need to strengthen the team, expand it with volunteers and provide more care. "It was also essential to ensure that all staff and volunteers on the volunteer line had the most up-to-date information - especially in terms of anti-epidemic measures or vaccinations, where changes often happened from one day to the next," adds Rich. A parallel volunteer line helped seniors with vaccination registration and, in cooperation with the Scouts, provided volunteer assistance in all regions.

Model stories from the Senior Helpline

Loneliness in the country and in the city

A gentleman from a lonely place in the Novohradské hory Mountains calls for advice. His wife, with whom he lived for each other, has died. Together they raised two children who now have college degrees, good jobs and families of their own. He's proud of them. During the day, his cottage, dog and garden keep him busy. But when night falls, it falls on him like a blanket. He knows he shouldn't be sad, he knows he should find something to do. But he feels useless. Everything is useless. The children tell him to move in with them. But to the city? To be alone there anyway, because they're at work all day? He was with them for a few days when his wife died. And it was terrible. He can't tell them, they'd be sad. But being alone in a strange world is worse than being alone at home. He fixed the lawnmower, thought it wouldn't even work. It did. But he's not happy about it either.

In fact, he only feels a little when he talks to the line worker. They're finding together that what he misses most is the simple, everyday sharing. "You know, when I wake up in the morning, I have to drink and I have to sing for a while. If I don't speak for half a day and then the postmistress happens to come, I have my tongue stuck to my palate and I can't even say hello to her."

"When you can't escape from the oppressive thoughts

It's getting dark outside the windows of the Senior Citizens' Line office. A senior calls, wishes you a good evening and says hesitantly, "Can I just talk to you for a moment? It's gotten to me somehow..." The line worker offers to talk about what is important to the caller. They talk together about the caller's day. "Sounds to me like you've had a busy day, you deserve a break," says the line worker. And the caller bursts into tears. He can't rest at all right now. Every time he falls asleep, he starts having nightmares. The evenings are similarly unpleasant. With the darkness comes heavy thoughts. "It's a good thing you were able to pick up the phone and call me when evening is coming. It must be challenging to be alone with difficult thoughts." - "You know, it's so awful I don't want to tell you. I sometimes think to myself that I must be completely insane." - "Are you worried that if I heard what thoughts were on your mind, you wouldn't be safe with me anymore? This call is anonymous. And I know we can't arrange for thoughts not to attack us. But we can determine which ones we give importance to and which ones we just let drift away. And saying them out loud helps us gain the upper hand. Let's also give your thoughts their due space and tell each other which ones are useful to you and which ones are not." Saying your darkest thoughts out loud takes courage, but it also brings relief. The caller talks about how as the evening wears on he sees everything black, nothing makes sense, how he thinks he shouldn't be in the world anymore, that it would make everyone feel better, but is it really? And would it be good for him? It would be a relief. Yes, the pain of the soul is great suffering. And it's not visible. But just as a broken leg needs a cast, so a sore soul deserves care. "When we talk about it, I feel it's more bearable..."

When the anxiety grows

A woman calls, panting, finding it difficult to speak. She is lonely, anxious about getting covid-19, feels scared about vaccinations, doesn't know which way to go, feels trapped... The line worker says she can totally hear the tension, that it must be unbearable to be under so much pressure for so long. The elderly woman describes how strong the fear is, how she feels it in her body, it tightens her throat, clouds her thinking, sometimes she shakes all over, she is afraid she will faint, she feels dizzy. It has never happened to her before. It didn't come until last fall, when the lockdown was back. "It sounds really awful, it's good that you want to do something about it and seek help. Have you confided in your GP?" "I don't want to talk to him about it, I'm afraid I'll just bring the Covid on by doing that. I shy away from people, I don't go anywhere, I definitely don't want to go to the waiting room, it's a big risk." The helpline worker appreciates that the caller takes care of herself, but to limit a lot of contact with people like this is often hard on the psyche. How much of a change did it make in her life?" She limited everything she could, including outdoor walks. She doesn't go out with people, wears a veil everywhere, often at home. She disinfects everything she brings home, she washes her hands all the time... droplets are everywhere, even in the woods. He wants to breathe freely again. He's afraid of illness, afraid of pain and doesn't want to experience suffocation, doesn't want to die in pain.

And what helps her to endure it? Faith is her great support and hope. The helpline worker offers opportunities to look together for what else might help, what might help other callers in a similar situation. Just like calling our helpline, talking to someone close to us who we trust can bring relief. More consistent support can be provided by a psychologist who can be worked with to remove those big anxieties and fears. Information hygiene also helps - if the news is hurting me, I don't watch more of it than necessary. And regarding fears about my health in relation to vaccinations, it's more effective to arrange, say, a longer phone call with my doctor than to find out information through friends. And the head needs as good a diet as the body - besides the bible, this can be nice music, a movie or being in nature - where the risk of contracting covid is minimal.

The caller asks to be able to write down the steps to take. She takes paper and pencil and writes down. It will be a kind of "life anchor" against refrigerator anxiety.

"You know, I was afraid I was going to go crazy, I'm glad I reached out to you, I got this anchor and also hope and light."

The Seniors Helpline 800 200 007 is a free anonymous crisis line and helpline for seniors caring for seniors and those in crisis. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, including weekends and holidays. The partner of the helpline is the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the O2 Foundation and the Prague City Hall.

Contact for media

Iveta Čížová ~ iveta.cizova@elpida.cz ~ +420 773 480 505

Elpida means hope in Greek. But it is also the name of an organisation that helps seniors become a confident and respected part of society. In the spirit of the Old's Cool motto, Elpida is changing the way people look at old age - it runs the Elpida Educational and Cultural Centre for seniors from all over Prague and the Senior Crisis Line, founded the brand Socks from Grandma, publishes the magazine VITAL, and organizes the intergenerational Old's Cool festival. In short, she is trying to make Czech seniors lead a full & happy life.