2007 Brief - At a closer look

LifeLine Shanghai (LLS) is public benefit, non-profit organisation affiliated with and accredited by LifeLine International, a worldwide organization with representation in over 22 countries and a corps of volunteers totaling more than 30,000.  LifeLine International is funded in part by the World Health Organization.  LifeLine Shanghai is closely modeled on the highly successful Tokyo English Life Line (TELL), which was founded in 1973 and now fields more than 27,000 calls annually. LifeLine Shanghai is therefore under the umbrella of LifeLine International and follows its code of ethics and accountability but does not receive any funding from LifeLine International. 

LifeLine Shanghai is an English-speaking telephone service that provides free, confidential emotional support and information from 10am – 10pm, 365 days a year.

• 40% of LLS callers seek emotional support related to job stress, loneliness, family issues, and relationship problems. 
• Nearly 50% of our callers are male.
• People of all ages and nationalities count on LifeLine to lend a sympathetic ear. 
• More than 60 LLS volunteers support our callers by providing confidential access to counseling services, crisis intervention, and other information.
• LLS’s commitment to fostering ‘’emotional well-being’’ assists our international community to seek valuable resources and make informed choices.
• As those choices continue to increase in Shanghai, we are seeing ourselves being used by the community more and more as they seek access to a variety of services relating to education, law, medical care, and leisure.

Since the helpline began in March 2004, we have seen a steady increase in our calls as our service becomes better known. 
We view our role in the community as becoming increasingly respected and valued.  LifeLine Shanghai is now open 12 hours a day, 365 days of the year.  Support is provided in English, but our international pool of telephone volunteers speak 22 languages.  LifeLine volunteers undergo a professional selection process and attend LifeLine’s unique three-day intensive training program that prepares them to provide confidential information and emotional support to Shanghai’s international community.

In order for LifeLine Shanghai to continue to meet the needs of its callers, our organization requires long term and sustainable monetary and in-kind sponsorship and support from the very community it serves.  Supporting LifeLine ensures our organisation can continue to offer a safe, confidential, and free service to those seeking information and/or emotional support.