Callers
The callers to THE UPPER ROOM CRISIS HOTLINE are any priest, deacon or religious brother who needs to talk to an anonymous, compassionate person to discuss or explore life issues or concerns. All calls are anonymous; no name or other identifying information will be asked or required except in a life-threatening emergency.
Calls to THE UPPER ROOM CRISIS HOTLINE includes calls such as those concerning Religious Life, depression, alcohol problems, drugs and other addictive behaviors, employee and family problems, financial concerns, housing, transportation, and job/employment needs. Others include legal problems, loneliness/isolation, medical concerns, problems with parishioners, relationships, sexuality, and any other concern the caller may want to discuss.
Crisis intervention and suicide prevention services will make every effort to save the lives of priests, deacons, or brothers who are desperate in their life situation and feel self-destruction is their last resort. THE UPPER ROOM will go to any length to offer support and to assist them in whatever way possible to enable them to carry out the mission of the priesthood and religious life. Appropriate referrals will be given for assistance that cannot be offered over the telephone.
Often, the caller will have a problem or concern that cannot be resolved in only one call. Follow-up calls are invited by either the caller returning a call to the Line, or the volunteer, with permission of the caller, will return a call to ascertain that the caller has been helped. If, for some reason, the caller has not received the assistance needed, the volunteer will work with the caller to find another resource.