[The prevention of suicide by the Telefonseelsorge (author's transl)].

The organisation which offers a 24-hour service of counselling and/or befriending to people who are suicidal risks or can themselves see no solution to their problems and difficulties, is known in Germany by the name of Telefonseelsorge. On the international level there exist norms for this work laid down by the International Federation of Telephonic Emergency Services (IFOTES). The consultation is either carried out by telephone or in individual or group conversations, and in addition there is the so-called "befriending" of clients in acute crises in their lives. Those who work with the Telefonseelsorge are confronted with the problem of suicide in 3 stages: the pre-suicidal, the acute suicidal and the post-suicidal situation.