SNEHA in Madras,
India, is a voluntary organization offering
emotional support to the lonely, the depressed
and the suicidal.
Suicide is a cry for help. Every 8 seconds,
someone somewhere in the world attempts suicide,
making it 
the
third major cause of death. People who attempt
suicide are caught in a conflict between the
wish to live and the urge to die. At that time
of desolation, if they have someone to talk
to, someone who would listen and understand
their feelings, someone who could rekindle their
faith in life, they may tide over the crisis
and want to live.
To address this need, the
Samaritan movement was launched in 1953. Over
3000 centers across the world, manned entirely
by a volunteer workforce, work for the cause
of suicide prevention under the banner of
Befrienders International.
SNEHA, an affiliate of Befrienders
International, was started at Madras, India,
in 1986. Since its inception, over 50,000
people have been befriended. Every day, over
20 people contact the organization through
the telephone, through letters or personal
visits. Callers are offered emotional support
during their time of crisis. They are assured
of confidentiality and unconditional acceptance.
The center is run solely
with the help of public donations. A careful
screening process is undertaken periodically,
to select volunteers from all walks of life.
These volunteers are then trained and equipped
with the necessary skills needed to handle
the brfriending needs of the caller. SNEHA
is open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every
day, through the year.
