A helpline, or switchboard, is a
telephone
A telephone, colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that enables two or more users to conduct a conversation when they are too far apart to be easily heard directly. A telephone converts sound, typically and most ...
service which offers help to those who call. Many helpline services now offer more than telephone support - offering access to information, advice or customer service via telephone, email, web or SMS.
The word ''
hotline
A hotline is a Point-to-point (telecommunications), point-to-point information transfer, communications Data link, link in which a telephone call, call is automatically directed to the preselected destination without any additional action by t ...
'' is also sometimes used to refer to a helpline.
A helpline can provide emotional support to a person in distress in its minimalistic form. It may help the individual.
Services include:
*
user assistance, for example computer software support
*
telephone counseling
Telephone counseling (also known as telephone therapy, telephone-based or telephone-delivered psychological treatment) refers to the use of the telephone to deliver any type of psychological treatment or therapy (such as cognitive behavioral thera ...
,
medical hotlines,
insolvency hotlines,
crisis hotline
A crisis hotline is a phone number people can call to get immediate emergency telephone counseling, usually by trained volunteers. The first such service was founded in England in 1951 and such hotlines have existed in most major cities of the E ...
s and many other types of hotlines.
See also
*
Telephone counseling
Telephone counseling (also known as telephone therapy, telephone-based or telephone-delivered psychological treatment) refers to the use of the telephone to deliver any type of psychological treatment or therapy (such as cognitive behavioral thera ...
*
Hotline
A hotline is a Point-to-point (telecommunications), point-to-point information transfer, communications Data link, link in which a telephone call, call is automatically directed to the preselected destination without any additional action by t ...
*
Single Non-Emergency Number
Single may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Single (music), a song release
Songs
* "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004
* "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008
* "Single" (William Wei song), 2016
* "Single", by ...
*
Emergency telephone number
An emergency telephone number is a number that allows a caller to contact local emergency services for assistance. The emergency number differs from country to country; it is typically a three-digit number so that it can be easily remembered and ...
*
Ask Foy
References
External links
Helpline Database{{Wiktionary
Information by telephone
Counseling