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Telephone Emergency Service 142 (TelefonSeelsorge) during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Survey among Counselors in Austria

Author

Listed:
  • Elke Humer

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria)

  • Christoph Pieh

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria)

  • Thomas Probst

    (Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems, Austria)

  • Ida-Maria Kisler

    (ABILE-Viktor Frankl Education Austria, 3390 Melk, Austria)

  • Wolfgang Schimböck

    (ABILE-Viktor Frankl Education Austria, 3390 Melk, Austria)

  • Petra Schadenhofer

    (ABILE-Viktor Frankl Education Austria, 3390 Melk, Austria
    Telephone Emergency Service—Lower Austria (TelefonSeelsorge NÖ), Diocese St. Pölten, 3100 St. Pölten, Austria)

Abstract

Telephone emergency services play an important role in providing low-threshold, anonymous crisis intervention free of cost. The current study aims to examine the mental well-being and perceived stress level of counselors as well as the main topics of helpline callers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria. In the current study, 374 counselors were recruited within the Austrian nationwide organization TelefonSeelsorge during the second wave of COVID-19 infection in Austria. The mental well-being (WHO-5) and perceived stress-level (PSS-10) were assessed and counselors were asked about the frequency of different topics thematized by callers and changes compared to pre-pandemic times. Compared to a reference group of the Austrian general population, counselors experienced less stress (13.22 vs. 16.42) and higher mental well-being (66.26 vs. 57.36; p < 0.001). The most frequent topics during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria were loneliness and mental health. More calls were registered in 2020 compared to 2019 and especially the topics loneliness, mental health, professional activities and relationships were reported to be thematized more often during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the time before ( p < 0.001). The results contribute to an understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on telephone crisis intervention.

Suggested Citation

  • Elke Humer & Christoph Pieh & Thomas Probst & Ida-Maria Kisler & Wolfgang Schimböck & Petra Schadenhofer, 2021. "Telephone Emergency Service 142 (TelefonSeelsorge) during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Survey among Counselors in Austria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2228-:d:504972
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elke Humer & Wolfgang Schimböck & Ida-Maria Kisler & Petra Schadenhofer & Christoph Pieh & Thomas Probst, 2020. "How the COVID-19 Pandemic Changes the Subjective Perception of Meaning Related to Different Areas of Life in Austrian Psychotherapists and Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-12, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elke Humer & Christoph Pieh & Ida-Maria Kisler & Wolfgang Schimböck & Petra Schadenhofer, 2022. "A Longitudinal Study on Mental Well-Being, Perceived Stress Level and Job-Related Meaningfulness of Austrian Telephone Emergency Service Counselors during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-9, March.

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