IASP Task Force - Helplines Best Practices
Chair
Dawn ONeil CEO Lifeline Australia member VESH
Members:
Mary Parsissons President LifeLine International member VESH
Mark Milton Chair IFOTES member VESH
Diana Rucci - Director IFOTES member VESH
Liz Ruck - Samaritans / Befrienders Worldwide member VESH
Project Rational and Justification: There is no commonly agreed set of standards for this work on an international level. IASP is the logical organisation to develop and promote such a set of standards.
Intended Beneficiaries : The project will also benefit callers and potential of Helplines that adopt these standards by providing a consistent level of response to the suicidal caller and by assuring those considering using a helpline of uniform standards of service delivery.
Tools and methods to be employed: A Full Project Plan developed to ascertain work loads, people responsible for component parts and regular meeting times and milestones. Some of the activities that would be central to the project would be:
- Gather current available evidence base for best practice
- Gather information about current practices and polices in use today
- Develop a quality standards framework based on this evidence and practice
- Develop practice notes/guidelines to support the standards
- Distribute the draft version to the IASP / VESH and other networks for comment / input
- Finalise standards and submit to IASP board for approval
Partnerships and Complimentary Projects: WHO Best practice booklet for Helplines (currently in development)
WHO Best Practice Booklet for Setting up a helpline (nearing completion)
Activities against Objectives with timelines: To be developed during first meeting.
