What it could possibly be like to ring a helpline. Written from a volunteers perspective and internet safety tips

Reaching out for support while going through a tough time can be so scary and hard and I just want to say I am so proud of all of you who are reading this for doing so.

I am writing this post from my experiences of both reaching out for support and providing some support to young people as a volunteer on a childrens helpline.

My Experience

I can relate to being a child and experiencing abuse and being scared and just wanting it to stop. I know how scary, confusing, isolating, lonely,damaging and dangerous (to name but a few of the emotions and difficulties)being in that situation can be and cause.

Not knowing where to turn to or what to do.

Which is one of the main reasons why when I grew up I decided to volunteer at a childrens helpline in order to be that support to young people who were in a similar situation as I was.

I wanted to be the support that I found so hard to find.

Volunteering as a listener on a helpline and what you can possibly expect when ringing one

I cannot share what helpline I volunteer with as I have not requested their permission to disclose details about it. Also this is only from my perspective and knowledge of the policies of this particular helpline and I am not saying every helpline operates this way.

The procedure to become a volunteer was thorough and each person who wanted to volunteer was interviewed and had to undergo a police check.

We all then underwent a 3 month training programe before we ever started listening which included training in relation to active listening, safe guarding , importance of confidentiality and information and how deal with different calls we may encounter.

We also made up a name name to give the caller in order to protect our identity and also so if a caller was being abusive that it would possibly have a less negative emotional impact.

Typical call and what we inform every young person who call's us and how we empower them and try to ensure that it is safe place to seek support.

We as volunteer's welcome each caller to the service and inform them what we do and of our confidentiality policy. So the typical call will start of like this:

Hi there, your very welcome here. We are a listening service for all young people. Could you give me a name I can call you by? We only ask for a first name and if you want this call to stay between you and the service its important you don't give us any identifying information such as your address or specific areas or other names, because if you do and we are concerned for your safety we would have to act on that and forward the information to services that can help. Is that ok?

Why do we do this?

Well we want every young person who calls us to feel safe sharing with us and empowering them with the knowledge in order to keep the call private ensures they can do that.

What is identifying information?

Anything that with a bit of investigation could lead to people identifying you, such as:

-Full names, yours or anyone you identify in the conversation. For example if they gave a freiends ,parents,teachers or social workers name that would be logged.

-Address or locations: if any specific identifying locations were given, like school name, hospital, services being used sch as identifying support groups etc.

-All specifics of abuse cases are logged, and if they are identifyingly specific to any media announcement or article, then that would be reported to the relevant services.

-Any given contact details(in the service I volunteer with we ensure that we cannot locate you or recieve your phone number or ip address in order to enusure that unless you give us that information, in order to reassure place that it is a safe place to share):but if you give your phone number, online contact information that would be logged and used as identifying information, such a snapchat,facebook, twitter,email etc.

Why we log those details and pass them onto the relevant services.

First thing to remember is on the service I volunteer with, we never go fishing for those details and dont ask for them and if someone does give something identifying we make them aware of it.

We legally have to log them because its a legal requirement that if any young person is disclosing they are in danger and are identifying themselves that it is passed on to services that can possibly help them.

​​​​​​Why this is a beneficial service.

Every young person deserves to have support while going through tough times and to listen in a non judgemental way.

To have someone there who can inform you of your rights.

To have a safe space to discuss feelings and to be able to reflect on them in a safe enviroment.validating them and feeling heard.

To have a place to ring that can provide you information on services which could help you.

To feel less alone.

I have found it to be a very rewarding experience to volunteer with such a service and I wish when I was younger that I was aware of such a service and contacted them as I feel it wpuld have been very helpful and made things alot easier.

7cups reminds me of that service but its not as regulated or as safe. As you always have to be aware that the people you are chatting to havent been police vetted or verified. Nor have they recieved the same level of training. Also another thing I think is really important to keep in mind while sharing on the forums is that it is public and anyone can read it.For that reason I am going to share some tips on here in order to stay safe while using the internet.

Staying Safe Online

1) Dont post any personal information online – like your address, email address or mobile number.

2) Think carefully before posting pictures or videos of yourself. Once youve put a picture of yourself online most people can see it and may be able to download it, its not just yours anymore.

3) Keep your privacy settings as high as possible

4) Never give out your passwords

5) Dont befriend people you dont know

6) Dont meet up with people youve met online. Speak to your parent or carer about people suggesting you do

7) Remember that not everyone online is who they say they are

8) Think carefully about what you say before you post something online

9) Respect other peoples views, even if you dont agree with someone elses views doesnt mean you need to be rude

10) If you see something online that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried: leave the website, turn off your computer if you want to and tell a trusted adult immediately.

As copied and pasted from https://www.safetynetkids.org.uk/personal-safety/staying-safe-online/

1. Keep Your Online Identity Secret

Dont tell anyone your real name and address or what neighborhood you live in. Heres the general rule: Dont give out any information that a predator could possibly use to find you. The Federal Trade Commission says that even small clues like what school you attend or the name of your athletic team is enough for a predator to figure out your identity. You wouldnt tell some 40-year-old man or woman you met at the mall your name and where you live, would you? So why would you tell CoolGuy985 or HotChick16from the chat room?

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2. Your Username and Password Belong to You … And Only You

Dont give your username or password to anyone. It's just that simple. What if a friend logs on and pretends to be you, and then says something really awful and gets you in trouble? Sure, it might seem funny to the former friend, but its serious and it happens everyday. With your username and password, someone can post language that gets you expelled from school, in trouble with your parents, or even in trouble with the law. Keep your name and password private.

3. The Internet has a Great Memory … So Keep Its Memory of You Clean

Just because the Internet is so massive does not mean that embarrassing or risqué pictures, rude or mean comments, or illegal activities will disappear forever. Watch what you post about yourself or others -- or allow your friends to post about you -- because you may have to live with it for a long, long time.

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4. Be Good Online … Just Like You Are Offline

Writing hate emails, hacking into other peoples computers, illegally downloading music or movies and making online threats are just as illegal on the Internet as they are in the real world. You cannot hide behind a screen name and get away with it. Watch what you write -- because someone else is watching what you write!

5. Be Extremely Careful about Meeting Someone in Person

The FBI gives an all-out blanket warning: Never meet anyone in person that you meet online. That said, many teens do make good friends online. You just have to be super-cautious and make sure other people you know and trust also know this new online person.

If you do decide to meet the new person, bring your parents with you. All of you meet together in a public area like a mall where there are tons of people around. Ask that the persons parents come, too. If the situation feels creepy, it probably is creepy! Just like in the real world, trust your gut instincts -- and walk away.

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6. Your Parents Are Ultimately Responsible for Minors Online

Even if your parents dont know much about the Internet, tell them what types of web sites you go to. They will probably be interested and impressed with your Internet skills. They may also help you avoid potential problems if a web site or new "friend" looks sketchy.

Some Extra Words of Caution

Almost Everything on the Internet Is Traceable

Every search, web site visit, online posting and email is registered or recorded somewhere on the Internet. Once you send something out on the Internet, it's almost impossible to take it back. You have to be careful -- not impulsive -- when you write email or go to chat rooms.

People Live in "Fantasyland" Online

Even though someone writes, Hi, Im a really cool 15-year-old guy from New York City, in reality that guy may be a 60-year-old man or even your next-door neighbor. Use scrutiny and caution.

Your Information Can Be Sold to Others

Every web site has this thing called a privacy policy. It will tell you how that web site uses all the personal information about you, like your name. In some cases, though, when youre not looking, some web sites ignore their privacy policy and sell your email address to other companies. When you open your email one day, you might have 150 spam emails in your inbox as a result. If a web site is asking for too much information about you, take control and leave the site. (Again, would you give this information to some older stranger at the mall? Probably not.)

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What about Nude Photos and Sex Sites?

Youve probably come across some explicit sexual material on the Internet. Thats because pornography is big business on the web. If you come across a pornography site or get pornographic email, take control: Leave the site or delete the email.

Remember, pornography is not real life. It's made up -- the men and women are acting. In real life, real people don't act that way with each other. There are much better ways to learn about real sex if you're curious -- like WebMDs Teen Health Channel.

Is It Safe to Post Photos of Myself on the Internet?

No way! In terms of bad ideas, this one tops the chart! John Shehan from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children based in Alexandria, Virginia, says that posting or emailing sexual pictures of yourself can be embarrassing -- and dangerous. Teens quickly learn the hard way that images are forever memorialized online, and they are almost impossible to delete, Shehan says.

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If someone asks you to send them sexual pictures, be very suspicious -- and don't do it. Alert your parents. Shehan says that teens who send out one sexual picture can sometimes be blackmailed to send more, when the sexual predator threatens to post the first picture online for millions to see -- or show it to your family or friends.

How Do I Report Creepy or Illegal Things Online?

While most Internet activity is legal, occasionally you might come across something that just seems wrong, creepy or even scares you. The first thing to do is tell your parents -- just like youd do if a creep talked dirty to you at the movies. Your parents can support you and help you make the right decisions about what to do next. If you decide to report the suspicious activity or person, there are two web sites you can go to:

For computer hacking, online stealing, or similar suspicious or illegal activity, go to www.ic3.gov. Follow the instructions for how to report what you saw.

For any suspicious activity involving sexual messages, someone sending you nude photos or asking you to send nude photos, someone trying to get you to do sexual things, or any other sexually related incident, go to www.cybertipline.com.

Admittedly, the Internet is completely awesome. It lets you discover an incredible new world and meet some great new friends in the next town or across the globe. Just use it with caution, since the trail you leave behind may come back to haunt you -- and your family and friends -- one day.

As copied and pasted from

https://teens.webmd.com/features/teen-internet-safety-tips

Hope some of you find this beneficial ❤ and if you have any questions feel free to ask, any I dont know the answer to i will try find out for you.🌹

Thanks :)