SOS Voz Amiga to provide 48-hour continuous support for suicide prevention
SOS Voz Amiga, Portugal’s oldest emotional support helpline, will provide 48 hours of continuous service to mark World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. The initiative involves volunteers providing support from midnight on Wednesday through midnight on Thursday.
Francisco Paulino, president of the organization, issued an alert regarding men over the age of 60, noting that this demographic often requires assistance but rarely seeks it. The helpline addresses issues such as loneliness, anxiety, and depression.
In 2025, the service handled 11,000 calls, currently averaging approximately 1,000 calls per month. While callers range from ages 12 to 80, the highest concentration of calls occurs between the ages of 35 and 55. The average call duration is 20 minutes, though sessions can extend beyond an hour depending on the severity of the situation.
Entities
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The most frequent reasons for calling are loneliness, anxiety, and depression. observador.pt · sapo.pt
- [● 2 SOURCES] The service currently averages 1,000 calls per month. observador.pt · sapo.pt
- [● 2 SOURCES] Callers typically range in age from 12 to 80 years old. observador.pt · sapo.pt
- [● 2 SOURCES] The helpline handled 11,000 calls in 2025. observador.pt · sapo.pt
- [● 2 SOURCES] Men over 60 often need help but rarely ask for it. observador.pt · sapo.pt
- [● 2 SOURCES] SOS Voz Amiga will provide 48 hours of continuous listening to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. observador.pt · sapo.pt