2013年1月31日 星期四

Hotline to Help關鍵熱線,即刻救援‏


 



With lots of recent teen suicides1 in the US, it is hard not to wonder if something could have been done to prevent them. Where can a person turn for help if they have an emotional crisis or have reached the breaking point2? The answer lies in hotlines3. These are special phone numbers that people can call if they need emergency counseling4 immediately. Most are available 24 hours a day and have trained volunteers and professional counselors.
 

美國近來青少年的自殺案例頻傳,因此很難不去思考當時是否能有什麼方法來防止這樣的事情發生。那麼當一個人有情緒方面的危機或是瀕臨崩潰邊緣時,他們可以向誰求助呢?答案就是緊急專線。這些專線就是人們在立刻需要緊急輔導時可以撥打的特殊號碼。多數的專線一天二十四小時都可接話,而且都擁有受過訓練的志工和專業輔導人員。

  The first crisis hotlines were created to help individuals thinking about committing suicide. An English priest named Chad Varah realized the need to reach out after he attended a funeral for a 14-year-old girl. She killed herself because she feared that she had gotten a sexually transmitted disease when she experienced her first period5. That had changed Varah's life, and in 1953, he founded The Samaritans6 to help those that had nowhere else to turn. The service caught on and spread throughout the UK, into the US, and even to Australia and Tasmania.
史上第一組緊急專線是設立來幫助有自殺念頭的人。一位名叫查德‧瓦拉的英國牧師在參加完某位十四歲少女的喪禮後,瞭解到適時伸出援手的必要性。這名少女在第一次月經來潮時,因為害怕自己得了性病而自殺。這件事改變了瓦拉的一生,於是在1953年,他創立了撒瑪利亞會以幫助那些求助無門的人們。後來這個機構的服務十分受歡迎,還進而擴展至英國、美國,甚至澳洲和澳洲的塔斯馬尼亞島。
  By the mid-1970s, suicide hotlines existed in most major cities in the US. Now, many of them have expanded their services to help people with all kinds of emotional crises. There are hotlines for runaway children, victims of domestic violence, and people dealing with gender identity issues. The good thing is that these crisis hotlines have toll-free7 numbers, which means callers can get the help they need for free.
到了1970年代中期,自殺防治專線(編按:現今亦稱生命線)在美國各大主要城市都有設立。如今,這些專線所提供的服務有許多都已經擴大到協助有各種情緒危機的人們。這些專線的服務對象包括逃家的孩童、家暴受害者,以及面臨性別認同問題的人。有一項優點是這些緊急專線都有免付費號碼,意思就是撥打者可以不花任何費用就能得到他們所需要的服務。
Building Your Vocabulary 
1. emotional a. 情緒(上)的,情感(上)的
My best friend provided emotional support at a very distressing time for me.
我最好的朋友在我非常低潮的時候給予我情感上的支持。
2. emergency n. 緊急情況(本文中作形容詞用)
I got a call about an emergency at home, so I had to leave in the middle of the meeting.
我接到一通從家裡打來的緊急電話,所以我必須中途離開會議。
3. transmit vt. 傳播;傳送(本文中以過去分詞作形容詞用)
The French Open will be transmitted live via satellite.
法國網球公開賽會透過衛星實況轉播。
4. runaway a. 逃跑的;失控的(僅用於名詞前)
The cowboy caught the runaway horse with a rope.
那個牛仔用套索套住了那匹失控的脫韁野馬。
5. domestic a. 涉及家庭的
In comparison to the past, there is more sharing of domestic responsibilities nowadays.
與過去相比,如今家中的責任會更平均地分攤。
Phrases for Learning 
1. lie in...  在於∕存在於……
Children's future development lies in good education.
孩童未來的發展在於良好的教育。
2. reach out (to...)  (對……)伸出援手
Local social workers try to reach out to foreign spouses.
本地社工們試著對外籍配偶伸出援手。
3. catch on  受到歡迎;蔚為流行
It didn't take very long for the latest fashion trend to catch on.
這個最新的時尚潮流沒多久就蔚為一股風潮。
Extra Words 
1. suicide n. 自殺(本文中亦作形容詞用)
2. breaking point n.(壓力爆發的)臨界點
3. hotline n. 專線電話,熱線
4. counseling n.(專業)輔導,諮詢
 counselor n. 輔導人員,顧問
5. period n. 月經(期)
6. Samaritan n. 助人為樂者(更常寫為 a good Samaritan)
7. toll-free a. 免付費的
Tips In Use 
The answer lies in hotlines.
(答案就是緊急專線。)
  對於求助無門或徬徨在人生十字路口的人們來說,緊急專線可說是一項很重要的救命資源,因為也許藉由幾個按鍵,一通電話便能挽回一條生命。有鑑於此,以下列舉在台灣可撥打的幾條專線。
1. 1995 生命線(自殺防治專線)
2. 0800-788995 衛生署安心專線(自殺防治)
3. 113 衛生署全國婦幼保護專線
4. 0800-088885 內政部外籍配偶諮詢專線
5. 02-23921970 台灣同志諮詢熱線
6. 165 警政署反詐騙專線
...he founded The Samaritans...
(……他創立了撒瑪利亞會……)
   Samaritan 一字的典故是源自聖經路加福音中的寓言故事『好心的撒瑪利亞人』。寓言中,一個猶太人遭強盜打劫,受了重傷躺在路邊。一位祭司和一名利未人路過時竟不聞不問,惟有一個撒馬利亞人經過時,不顧種族隔閡,心懷慈悲地照顧他,並在離開時出錢讓猶太人住進旅店。因此,這個字成了西方基督教文化中一個很著名的用語,意為『助人為樂者』。

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