Roshni

Background
Roshni is a suicide helpline that offers free, unconditional support to the depressed and the suicidal. Set up in Hyderabad in December 1997, with the backing of Dr. Anji Reddy (Chairman - Reddy Labs), Roshni is an effort to counter the accelerating suicide rates in a country where over 90,000 people kill themselves every year. They are guided by the belief that "Suicide is not a wish to die, but a cry for help."

Roshni is affiliated to Befriender's International - operating in 40 countries over the world, and with the support of over 40,000 volunteers.

Activities
35 rigorously trained volunteers at Roshni are there to lend an ear to your mental problems - whether due to the girl-next-door, physical abuse, health problems or even if you start to realize that you actually prefer the boy-next-door and not his sister. If you don't have an issue with anonymity, you can even drop in at their center for a personal session.

Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering for Roshni does not require you to be a social worker or counsellor, but you do have to undergo selection and training. The process entails a group discussion, 3-4 weekends of training and 6 months of probationary service before you can call yourself a full-time volunteer.

It's helpful to remember that it's not as easy as counselling your best friend. Although it's deeply rewarding to be able to attend to a cry of help, it's also a devastating experience if your lack of training turns that into someone's last cry.