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Telephone support line
The telephone contact line is the first point of contact with the Charity. Often people who use the line have been dealing with drug/ alcohol use in the family for years and have felt, for whatever reason, unable to ask for help. People tell us that they find the number and don’t use it for a number of reasons, fear, guilt, shame etc. So when people do take that step, often because they have no place else to go or some catastrophic event has happened, we ensure that they are welcomed.
The line provides them with a link to:
· Someone with time to listen to them in a non-judgemental way · Someone who has time · Someone who has empathy and is knowledge about drug and alcohol use and the effects this can have on family life and can support the family member in their own right · Someone who can help them explore the next steps, after an initial soft assessment of need · Someone who can give them hope · Someone who cares, at any time of the day or night · Someone who can signpost to other sources of help if appropriate · A place where plans can be made · All the other services on offer at PSL, including dedicated telephone support The outcomes of this valuable work are:
General Health, wellbeing and mental health improves · People feel less isolated and lonely · Stress and anxiety levels are addressed · People function better at work, or in education · Communication skills are improved · Substance use and addiction is better understood, this, in turn, helps families to move forward together · More people with problematic substance use will enter treatment and with support make a good recovery
