Teen Line: a descriptive analysis of a peer telephone listening service |
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Authors: | K Boehm J B Chessare T R Valko M S Sager |
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Affiliation: | Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43699. |
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Abstract: | Teen Line is a peer telephone listening service for adolescents. During its first year of operation, 2,270 phone calls were received. After an initial novelty effect, counts document a consistent level of use of the service. Two-thirds of the callers were female. Although 4% of topics discussed dealt with crisis situations (suicide, physical abuse), 96% were concerned with common, less urgent adolescent issues, such as peer relationships, family dynamics, and the need to have someone "just to talk to." This paper presents a model for an adolescent listening service and provides data garnered over a year's utilization. Consistent use documents its acceptance as a source of information for teenagers. |
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