Depressed, Distressed or Suicidal? Call Us!
10 AM to 12 AM | Every Day | All Year Round
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lifeline Foundation? Lifeline Foundation is a non-profit offering emotional support via telephone for individuals who are depressed, distressed or suicidal. We serve callers across India from all age groups, genders, sexual orientations, and mental health issues.
Where is your organisation based, and how long have you been operating? Lifeline Foundation is based in Kolkata, West Bengal, and operating since May 1996.
How do I contact Lifeline Foundation for emotional support? We offer emotional support through our dedicated helplines. Please call us any day of the year, from 10 AM to 12 AM IST, at +91 91639 40404 and +91 90880 30303.
Are your helplines available on holidays? Yes. We are available on all days of the year, including national and public holidays.
What are the fees? Calling and speaking with us is entirely free; call charges apply as per your telecom provider.
In which languages are your services available? We offer our services in Hindi, English, and Bengali. If you need support in other languages, we will direct you to other suitable organizations in India.
Who manages and runs these services? Lifeline Foundation is entirely run by volunteers, who are rigorously trained in internationally standardized listening and befriending techniques towards mental health support and suicide prevention.
What can I talk about here? You can seek support with any emotional or psychological distress like academic stress, work pressure, tension and anxiety, isolation and loneliness, frustration and anger, physical/emotional abuse, relationship problems, family issues etc.
How can you help me? We will try to provide emotional support through befriending in a non-judgmental, anonymous and confidential way through our telephone helplines. Our services are totally free.
Do you offer counselling or psychotherapy? No. Our befriending services should not be considered as alternative or substitute for professional, therapeutic interventions like counselling or psychotherapy, which can be offered only by licensed professionals like psychologists or psychiatrists.
Who am I talking to when I call Lifeline Foundation? All interactions are handled by trained and experienced mental health volunteers.
How much can I share with you? You may share as much as you’re comfortable with. Communications are anonymous and confidential. You’re welcome to call us as often as you need, whenever you feel that speaking with us is helping you cope with emotional or psychological distress.
Will everything I share be told to someone? No. Lifeline Foundation follows shared confidentiality: a brief summary may be shared among current volunteers to ensure continuity. Your identity remains undisclosed.
Do I need to tell you my name or other personal details like age, location, profession etc.? No. Sharing your name is entirely optional and up to you, as well as any other personal information. Our volunteers will never ask for any personal information.
Can I talk about personal or sexual issues? Yes. We welcome sensitive topics and respond with due sensitivity and empathy.
Will my number be recorded? No. We do not track or record your number. All calls to our helplines are routed through secure telephony software that masks your number, ensuring complete caller anonymity—even our volunteers do not have access to your contact details.
Is my location being tracked? No. We do not track your location honouring our commitment towards anonymity and confidentiality.
Is my phone call recorded? We do not record any phone calls. If you are the caller, you should also not record the call at your end. If we detect a call is being recorded by the caller, we will immediately terminate the call from our end.
How many times can I call in a day? While there is no limitation on the number of calls in a day, we may ask you to call on another day if we feel that your calls are repetitive in their content and intent, and speaking with us is not helping you in any way.
Can I know the name of the person I am speaking with? Lifeline Foundation practices two-way anonymity: our volunteers do not disclose their names, locations, or their personal contact details like mobile number, email, social media etc.
Will you give me advice? No. We do not give advice or offer solutions. Our befriending process is designed to empower you. The aim is to facilitate self-awareness and discovery, so that you can find your own way.
Can I just vent? Yes, you are welcome to express whatever you’re feeling—this is a safe and non-judgmental space for you. However, we kindly request that you refrain from any disrespectful behaviour, including the use of abusive language or sexually inappropriate remarks. Such conduct will result in the call being respectfully terminated by the volunteer.
Will you share what I’ve spoken about with family/others? No. All information is confidential. Our volunteers are forbidden under the code of conduct of Lifeline Foundation from discussing any call details with their family, friends or anyone in their social or professional network.
Can you call me back? Lifeline Foundation does not offer routine callbacks. Callbacks occur only during high-risk emergencies like active suicide, and only with the prior consent of the caller. You will need to share your name, current location and address, and mobile number if you need a callback.
Can we avail your services as a couple or family? Yes. Couples or families may choose face-to-face befriending sessions by prior appointment. We encourage each individual to speak with us separately before participating in a joint session.
Who am I talking to when I call Lifeline Foundation? All interactions are handled by trained and experienced mental health volunteers.
How much can I share with you? You may share as much as you’re comfortable with. Communications are anonymous and confidential. You’re welcome to call us as often as you need, whenever you feel that speaking with us is helping you cope with emotional or psychological distress.
Will everything I share be told to someone? No. Lifeline Foundation follows shared confidentiality: a brief summary may be shared among current volunteers to ensure continuity. Your identity remains undisclosed.
Do I need to tell you my name or other personal details like age, location, profession etc.? No. Sharing your name is entirely optional and up to you, as well as any other personal information. Our volunteers will never ask for any personal information.
Can I talk about personal or sexual issues? Yes. We welcome sensitive topics and respond with due sensitivity and empathy.
Will my number be recorded? No. We do not track or record your number. All calls to our helplines are routed through secure telephony software that masks your number, ensuring complete caller anonymity—even our volunteers do not have access to your contact details.
Is my location being tracked? No. We do not track your location honouring our commitment towards anonymity and confidentiality.
Is my phone call recorded? We do not record any phone calls. If you are the caller, you should also not record the call at your end. If we detect a call is being recorded by the caller, we will immediately terminate the call from our end.
How many times can I call in a day? While there is no limitation on the number of calls in a day, we may ask you to call on another day if we feel that your calls are repetitive in their content and intent, and speaking with us is not helping you in any way.
Can I know the name of the person I am speaking with? Lifeline Foundation practices two-way anonymity: our volunteers do not disclose their names, locations, or their personal contact details like mobile number, email, social media etc.
Will you give me advice? No. We do not give advice or offer solutions. Our befriending process is designed to empower you. The aim is to facilitate self-awareness and discovery, so that you can find your own way.
Will you share what I’ve spoken about with family/others? No. All information is confidential. Our volunteers are forbidden under the code of conduct of Lifeline Foundation from discussing any call details with their family, friends or anyone in their social or professional network.
Can you call me back? Lifeline Foundation does not offer routine callbacks. Callbacks occur only during high-risk emergencies like active suicide, and only with the prior consent of the caller. You will need to share your name, current location and address, and mobile number if you need a callback.
Can we avail your services as a couple or family? Yes. Couples or families may choose face-to-face befriending sessions by prior appointment. We encourage each individual to speak with us separately before participating in a joint session.
Can you call someone on my behalf? No. We will not be able to do so. You will need to ask that person to call us directly from their end.
Can I get a face-to-face session? Yes. You may opt for face-to-face befriending with prior appointment. Please note that this is limited only to people located in Kolkata as we do not have physical presence elsewhere. You have to make your own arrangements to travel to our office In Kolkata for fac-to-face sessions.
Can I get involved? You can join us a volunteer. We don’t not offer any paid position or job, either part-time or full-time. You can also support us by being a donor.
Do you offer your services through email or chat? No. The primary way to avail our services is through our telephone helplines. You can email us if you require any information, but emotional support is not provided over email. We are not available on any chat services like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Snapchat etc.
Do I need to tell you my name or other personal details like age, location, profession etc.? No. Sharing your name is entirely optional and up to you, as well as any other personal information. Our volunteers will never ask for any personal information.
Is this an LGBT-friendly service? Absolutely. We train and sensitize all volunteers to LGBTQ+ issues. You will not be judged based on your sexuality.
Can people from other parts of the country/world call? Yes. Geographical location is no barrier, as long as you are calling in between our operating hours as per Indian Standard Time. However, since our numbers are not toll-free, international call charges will apply if you are calling from abroad.
Do you provide financial aid? No. We do not provide any financial aid.
Can I get guidance about medication? No, our volunteers are not equipped or authorized to provide medical advice or prescribe medication. We are not doctors. If you are currently on medication, we recommend discussing any concerns directly with your psychiatrist. If you believe medication may be necessary, it is important to consult a qualified psychiatrist, who can make a formal clinical diagnosis regarding your condition and guide you appropriately.
Is this a safe place to talk about violence at home? Yes. Lifeline Foundation is trauma-informed, provides a safe space, and offers referrals to NGOs, shelter homes, and government agencies.
Can you visit my organization for an awareness session? Do you charge any fees? We do conduct awareness sessions on mental health, emotional well-being, and suicide prevention for organizations, institutions, and community groups. We do not charge any fees for these sessions, as part of our commitment to public service. However, since we are a volunteer-run, non-profit organization, we do appreciate logistical support (such as travel arrangements for outstation sessions) and welcome any goodwill contributions to help us sustain our efforts. To explore this further, please contact us with a brief about your organization, preferred dates, and audience profile. We will get in touch to coordinate. Please note that we can address requests from organizations based in and around Kolkata and its nearby suburbs and districts.