Guidelines for good helpline practice

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GUIDELINES FOR GOOD HELPLINE PRACTICE

By TARSHI (Talking About Reproductive and Sexual Health Issues)

Many telephone helpline services have been established across the country over

the last five years, highlighting the role of the helpline as an effective

medium of intervention. Helplines much like any other form of intervention, need

professional standards to function optimally.

Responding to this need, TARSHI, a New Delhi based NGO that runs one of the

oldest helplines on sexuality in India (established in 1996), has developed a

set of guidelines to assist in ensuring good helpline practice.

The specific aim of the Guidelines is to assist people in helpline organisations

- from helpline managers to counsellors - as well as those interested in setting

up helpline services. The 'Guidelines for Good Helpline Practice' include

chapters on principles of counselling, establishing a service, taking a call,

preventing burnout and other issues critical to maintaining a high quality

helpline service.

To order copies of 'Guidelines for Good Helpline Practice' contact TARSHI:

Price within India: Rs 350/- Price outside India: USD 15

Administrative office: 11, Mathura Road, 1st Floor,

Jangpura B, New Delhi 110 014, India

Phone and fax: 91-11-2431 9070, 91- 11- 2431 9071

Email: contacttarshi@..., Website: www.tarshi.org