Nightline (student service)
Encyclopedia
Nightline is the name given to various confidential and anonymous
overnight listening, emotional support, information, and supplies services, run by students for students at universities around the world. Individual Nightlines are autonomous organisations, but many choose to affiliate to the Nightline Association, which is an umbrella organisation founded to facilitate cooperation at a national level.
There are now Nightlines services in over 40 universities with a total of 1,500 student volunteers in the UK some of which are affiliated with the Nightline Association, as well as several others which are not affiliated. In later years, other universities in Europe
, Canada
, and the United States
also started Nightline services.
Their current motto
is 'We'll listen, not lecture'
by a former director of the local Samaritans
branch and the university chaplain
to try and reduce the rate of student suicide. The helpline was founded on the understanding that some students would be reluctant to approach outsiders for help and would find it easier to speak to another student. The idea caught on and spread first to Imperial College
in London
in 1971, and then to many other universities around the UK
.
During the early 1980s, individual Nightlines started to work together to share skills and ideas, such as publicity, recruitment and training concepts. The umbrella organization National Nightline was founded in 1991 as a formal structure for this work, and represents all affiliated organizations, but has no authority over them. It became a registered charity in early 2006.. It subsequently adopted the operating name of Nightline Association..
The Nightline Association also hosts an annual conference of member Nightlines every year. Conferences form a primary method of communication within the Nightline Association, as a means of disseminating vital information and ideas - examples include Lancaster Nightline's conference on training issues (2006) or the Oxford Nightline conferences on abusive callers (2005, 2006, 2007).
Nightline's 40th birthday celebratory conference and awards ceremony was held at the place of its origin Essex University
in March 2010. The conference and awards ceremonies are held at different Nightline universities on an annual basis and are organised by an Executive Officer from the hosting university.
, confidentiality
, and non-directionality. Most choose to formalize that as the 'Five Principles':
The Nightline Association also state that their vision is for every student in higher and further education to have access to the support offered by Nightline services so that:
To achieve this vision, the mission of the Nightline Association is to raise the quality, profile and number of Nightline services so that every student is aware of and has access to confidential emotional peer support.
Nightlines are staffed by student volunteers, who are trained to take calls in accordance with the principles and policies of their organization. Nightline volunteers are not paid for their time, however some Nightlines have paid co-ordinators.
Anonymity
Anonymity is derived from the Greek word ἀνωνυμία, anonymia, meaning "without a name" or "namelessness". In colloquial use, anonymity typically refers to the state of an individual's personal identity, or personally identifiable information, being publicly unknown.There are many reasons why a...
overnight listening, emotional support, information, and supplies services, run by students for students at universities around the world. Individual Nightlines are autonomous organisations, but many choose to affiliate to the Nightline Association, which is an umbrella organisation founded to facilitate cooperation at a national level.
There are now Nightlines services in over 40 universities with a total of 1,500 student volunteers in the UK some of which are affiliated with the Nightline Association, as well as several others which are not affiliated. In later years, other universities in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
also started Nightline services.
Their current motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is 'We'll listen, not lecture'
History
The first Nightline was set up in 1970 at Essex UniversityUniversity of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
by a former director of the local Samaritans
Samaritans (charity)
Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress or at risk of suicide throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, often through their telephone helpline. The name comes from the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, though the organisation...
branch and the university chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to try and reduce the rate of student suicide. The helpline was founded on the understanding that some students would be reluctant to approach outsiders for help and would find it easier to speak to another student. The idea caught on and spread first to Imperial College
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1971, and then to many other universities around the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
During the early 1980s, individual Nightlines started to work together to share skills and ideas, such as publicity, recruitment and training concepts. The umbrella organization National Nightline was founded in 1991 as a formal structure for this work, and represents all affiliated organizations, but has no authority over them. It became a registered charity in early 2006.. It subsequently adopted the operating name of Nightline Association..
The Nightline Association also hosts an annual conference of member Nightlines every year. Conferences form a primary method of communication within the Nightline Association, as a means of disseminating vital information and ideas - examples include Lancaster Nightline's conference on training issues (2006) or the Oxford Nightline conferences on abusive callers (2005, 2006, 2007).
Nightline's 40th birthday celebratory conference and awards ceremony was held at the place of its origin Essex University
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
in March 2010. The conference and awards ceremonies are held at different Nightline universities on an annual basis and are organised by an Executive Officer from the hosting university.
Philosophy & Vision
All Nightlines adhere to core principles of anonymityAnonymity
Anonymity is derived from the Greek word ἀνωνυμία, anonymia, meaning "without a name" or "namelessness". In colloquial use, anonymity typically refers to the state of an individual's personal identity, or personally identifiable information, being publicly unknown.There are many reasons why a...
, confidentiality
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is an ethical principle associated with several professions . In ethics, and in law and alternative forms of legal resolution such as mediation, some types of communication between a person and one of these professionals are "privileged" and may not be discussed or divulged to...
, and non-directionality. Most choose to formalize that as the 'Five Principles':
- Confidentiality - calls are strictly confidential between Nightline and the caller.
- Anonymity - callers are not required to give any identifying details to the Nightline volunteers taking their calls. Volunteers must also keep their work secret where possible, which often involves not revealing to their peers that they are Nightline volunteers.
- Non-Judgemental - Nightline will not impose any views or prejudices on callers.
- Non-Directional - Nightline will not push callers towards any course of action, but will try to help them come to their own decisions.
- Non-Advisory - Nightline does not give out advice, but will pass on factual, impartial information if appropriate.
The Nightline Association also state that their vision is for every student in higher and further education to have access to the support offered by Nightline services so that:
- Every student is able to talk about their feelings in a safe, non-judgmental environment
- Fewer students have their education compromised by emotional difficulties
- Fewer students die by suicide.
To achieve this vision, the mission of the Nightline Association is to raise the quality, profile and number of Nightline services so that every student is aware of and has access to confidential emotional peer support.
Services & Structure
All Nightlines operate a telephone listening service, some providing separate lines and telephone numbers for listening and for information. Some also offer a 'drop-in' service, where callers can talk to a Nightline volunteer in person. Many Nightlines offer e-listening (contact by email) as an additional means of support. Most recently, some Nightlines have begun offering a confidential online listening service, a confidential text-based one-to-one chat conducted via a secure internet connection. In addition to the various listening services, some Nightlines supply condoms, pregnancy testing kits, personal attack alarms and women's sanitary products. A few even offer a 'bed for a night' service where students can come to Nightline to sleep, and some offer a camp-bed/mattress hire service for those students with friends visiting.Nightlines are staffed by student volunteers, who are trained to take calls in accordance with the principles and policies of their organization. Nightline volunteers are not paid for their time, however some Nightlines have paid co-ordinators.