Two key questions dominate the reflections in this book:What distinguishes the Telephone Emergency Service in Germany ("TelefonSeelsorge") from all the other already existing telephone helplines; what are its characteristics?How can specific elements of this service be better identified? E.g. what is known of the clients? What skills and qualifications are required of the volunteers for this work? Which legal and structural frameworks have to be in place?Sociologists, psychologists , lawyers, theologians, literary scientists and consultants scrutinize the Telephone Emergency Service in Germany from their respective point of view and reflect on its work.

Dr. theol. Eberhard Hauschildt ist Professor für Praktische Theologie an der Evangelisch-theologischen Fakultät der Universität Bonn.