Befrienders centers work to reduce suicide worldwide with 31,000 volunteers in almost 40 countries
Befrienders Worldwide Conference Thailand 2008
In October 2008, as part of the Samaritans of Thailand's 30th Anniversary celebrations, Befrienders Worldwide held a major international conference on the theme, 'Forward Together'. We welcomed over 170 delegates to reflect on our past endeavors and practices, and looked at going ‘forward together'.
Speakers included: Dr José Bertoloté, ex-Senior Medical Officer for the World Health Organsiation; Dr Brian Mishara, Director of the International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP); Ilona Boniwell, Program Leader for Masters in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) University of East London; Mechai Viravaidya, Founder and Chairman of the Population and Community Development Association (PDA) and Felicity Harding, daughter of Chad Varah the founder of Samaritans and Befrienders. Internal speakers included: Liz Try, Chair of Befrienders Worldwide Steering Group; Irma Skruibiene, Youth Psychological Aid Centre; Luiza Delavechia, CVV-Nitteroi and Mallika Gulvady, Sneha. 
A series of presentations, plenary discussions and working groups included:
- Technology - providing emotional support through e-mail and texting
- Bereavement
- Communities in transition
- Reaching out
- Listening skills
- Future planning
Access to the presentations is available to Befrienders Members only. To obtain a login name and password, please contact the International Officer (Befrienders Worldwide) through the Communication Form on the Contact Us page, indicating the member centre you are from.
Go Back