Norwegian Seamen’s Church reports surge in holiday crisis calls

The Norwegian Seamen’s Church has received an unusually high number of requests for help with alcohol, drug use and family problems during the summer, Dagbladet reports.

“There have been surprisingly many enquiries linked to social challenges at the churches in Spain and through emergency telephone lines both centrally and locally. We see that many people are getting in touch and are worried,” Lise Tørnby, the organisation’s operational leader, told Dagbladet.

Most of the enquiries have come from Spain, but Thailand has also seen a rise in requests.

The calls often concern a need for conversation and support related to substance use, family problems or neglect. They come both from people on holiday with those involved and from people worried about someone travelling abroad.

Some cases involve teenagers travelling with parents who use drugs or alcohol and who are worried about how to get their mother and father home. Others involve couples arguing while children are present and struggling to deal with the situation.

No enquiries this summer have concerned children being left to fend for themselves, Tørnby said.

The Seamen’s Church’s emergency telephone lines are normally used for issues such as lost passports. This summer, however, many callers have been in difficult situations.

In addition to enquiries about alcohol and drugs, many people have expressed concern about poor mental health and suicidal thoughts. Some parents have called about young people and adult children on holiday whom they fear are using drugs heavily or experiencing poor mental health.

Tørnby said it was difficult to determine why the organisation had seen an increase. She suggested that more people may have become aware of the Seamen’s Church’s presence abroad. She also said the unusually hot weather could have affected mental health, although the situation was not unique to this year.

She said holidays can intensify existing social problems.

“What is difficult does not take a holiday,” Tørnby said.

Alongside the emergency calls, the Seamen’s Churches in Spain have also had a steady stream of visitors this summer. The churches have local emergency telephone lines and offer an accessible service to people experiencing social problems.

Local staff can travel to meet people who need help, or people can come to the church for coffee and a conversation. At the churches, deacons and priests provide talks, guidance and support.

Some people simply need help getting home to Norway. The organisation can also help people find their own solutions or contact support services in Norway.

“We are a church, but also a social meeting place for people who need us,” Tørnby said.