[Mental Health's hot line. A report from the first year of the service].

In 1992, Mental Health Norway, a national organisation of psychiatric patients, started a telephone-service for persons in difficult situations. The service is free, and operates all day and night. The counsellors are specially selected lay persons. They are supervised by the head of the project and by a psychiatrist. During the first year more than 20,000 calls from all over the country were answered. The callers have been registered both demographically and according to the problems presented. The findings are reported, and problems, such as thoughts of suicide, are described in detail. The author stresses the importance of regular supervision of the counsellors, and mentions the possibility of extending the service. Some difficulties in measuring the efficiency and the effects of a service of this kind are also discussed. All the same, a telephone service which offers a personal talk here and now or establishes contact with professionals when essential is considered justified.