10/03/2023 - 13:24
On September 7, we held the second experience sharing meeting where Haklara Destek organizations shared “good examples” pertaining to hotlines and counselling services they offer. Can Eren and Evrim Demirtaş from the Pink Life LGBTI+ Solidarity Association, Hatice Demir and Ruken Ergüneş from Rosa Women’s Association, Eşref Bilge Uğurlu from Health Right Association, and Elif Balcı from Social Policy, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association (SPoD) shared their experiences on hotlines and counselling services.
The organizations explained that hotlines emerge as a response to a need, and they talked about how and to whom they provide services. They also stated that they aim to provide counselling via different tools to increase accessibility, try to raise as much resources as possible for sustainability, and attach great importance to sharing experiences in order to provide good service. Whereas Rosa Women’s Association has used the hotline phone on a rotating basis for a period, SPoD has provided counselling services anonymously through volunteer work.
The Health Right Association stated that the calls they received pointed towards another need in addition to legal and psychological support. Thus, they started to provide information as a third service. All organizations underlined that it is important to receive feedback from those who use these services and that they attach great importance to the feedback provided. For example, Pink Life representative stated that they receive feedback through different channels such as professional supervision, meetings held with mental health experts from different organizations, or directly from those who use their services.
Pink Life LGBTI+ Solidarity Association provides psychological support services to anyone who identifies themselves under the umbrella of trans and LGBIAQ+ people on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 12:00-18:00 via the hotline 0549 100 06 88 or through the email address psikolojikdanisma@pembehayat.org. They also provide legal counselling since 2022. They provide legal support services to anyone who identifies themselves under the umbrella of trans and LGBIAQ+ people on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 12:00-18:00 via the hotline 0549 100 06 88 or through the email address hukuk@pembehayat.org.
Rosa Women’s Association receives reports of violence (against women) via the hotline +90 552 466 86 21.
The Health Right Association has a call center where you can receive information on patients’ rights and health workers’ rights and request free support and guidance in case your right to health is violated.
Since 2017, Social Policy, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association (SPoD) has been providing a LGBTI+ Hotline service to offer accurate, up-to-date and reliable information on questions and problems pertaining to gender identity and sexual orientation.
