Lending an Ear to Troubled Teens : At a Much-Needed Youth Hotline, Callers Will Talk to Peers

The teenage years often are the toughest, both for those trying to plow their way to adulthood and those who love them. A distrust of adults is common; only years later do those who are now adults realize just how common is the “don’t trust anyone over 30” mind-set.

The Hotline Help Center, based in Anaheim, has operated for 29 years, getting by on a slim budget of less than $50,000 a year and offering a sympathetic ear to callers with all sorts of problems.

Later this month the center hopes to branch out with a hotline dealing with teenagers’ problems and staffed by other teenagers. It is a good idea; anything that can help ease the growing pains from age 13 through 19 is worth trying.

Although the hotline is associated with several churches in Orange County, organizers wisely plan to have the volunteer phone answerers listen to the teens, rather than preach. Any sort of preaching is likely to turn listeners off, especially the young. Messages aimed at converting those who are looking only for some advice might only give an excuse to tune out or hang up.

Organizers also stress that their volunteers will provide a sounding board for callers, not advice. These will not be doctors or psychologists handling the calls; an ability to listen and empathize should be sufficient for the majority of the callers. Operators of hotlines say most callers just want someone to talk with; if more action is required, the organizations train the telephone talkers to call police, doctors or other professionals.

The new hotline could have rough going. Nonprofit organizations that operate hotlines find it tough to stay in business. It costs money to buy telephones and telephone lines; it costs money to advertise for volunteers to answer the phones.

The Hotline Help Center’s executive director, Pat Pina, said the teen line plans to operate from 2 to 10 p.m. Those calling outside those hours will get an announcement offering them a chance to talk to an adult or to call one of several teen hotlines based outside Orange County. The hotline represents a good effort to reach out to youngsters who need help, or at least an available ear, but may not know where else to turn.