Kaan Pete Roi

Kaan Pete Roi

Formation	2013
Founder	Yeshim Iqbal
Type	Non-profit
Purpose	Suicide prevention
Location	Bangladesh Dhaka, Bangladesh
Official language	Bengali
Key people	Yeshim Iqbal, Rozy Hossain
Volunteers	40
Website	www.shuni.org

Kaan Pete Roi is an emotional support helpline in Bangladesh.

Its founders say it is the first of its kind in the country.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]} It is staffed by trained volunteers, where people can call to receive immediate emergency counseling. The mission of the helpline is to alleviate feelings of despair, isolation, distress, and suicidal feelings among members of the community, through confidential listening. The helpline is intended for suicide prevention and the promotion of mental health.

Background

The service was founded by Yeshim Iqbal, a Psychology Graduate from Cornell University currently a doctoral student at New York University who had previously worked for similar help lines abroad.^[7][8] After coming back to Bangladesh from USA she worked with a team of staff and volunteers. The primary staff members also included Rozy Hossain, a graduate of SUST, and Hammad Ali, Senior Lecturer of CSE at Brac University.^[6] Kaan Pete Roi opened its phone lines on April 28, 2013.^[9]

Caller confidentiality

Kaan Pete Roi does not share any caller details outside the organization.^[10] The organization's policy is not to ask the callers for any information relating to their identities and all the volunteers sign a very strict confidentiality agreement. If callers involuntarily disclose traceable personal information, volunteers are strictly asked not to note down anything of that nature. Kaan Pete Roi realizes that it is often easier to seek help knowing that the callers would not be subject to any scrutiny. The volunteers are trained to make it clear that they require no information about the person but are there just to talk. This works not only to protect the caller’s identity but helps him or her open up more, knowing that they can hang up anytime and not have to answer questions.^[11]

Volunteer confidentiality

Kaan Pete Roi volunteers are asked not to disclose their own names or identities and are discouraged from forging a relationship with their callers. Office addresses are not public and individual volunteer timings are also not given out. Kaan Pete Roi goes a step further by asking their volunteers not to disclose what they do to any public media or forum.^[11]

References