Now you can chat with a Duty Priest

The Duty Priest can be reached via 112, as well as online as of 1 September. Photo: Gustaf Hellsing/IKON

The Church of Sweden Duty Priest service is now expanding by opening two new channels for making contact. As of Monday it will be possible to chat with and send digital letters to the Duty Priest.

On 1 September the Duty Priest will be opening up two new channels on the net: chat and digital letter. At svenskakyrkan.se/jourhavandeprast you can reach the Duty Priest via chat, Monday – Thursday between 8 pm and 12 midnight, or send a digital letter and receive an answer within 24 hours. Nothing of what is written is saved, and the priest is also obliged to observe strict confidentiality online. You can still reach the Duty Priest by phone as before on 112, between 9 pm and 6 am daily.

“Vision zero” pproach to suicide“
Today, many people, especially the young, communicate more frequently online than by phone.  That’s why it’s important that you can also reach the Duty Priest via the internet,” says Monica Eckerdal, national coordinator for the Duty Priest service.
“By expanding the Duty Priest service by a further two channels, the Church of Sweden wishes to contribute to the “vision zero” approach to suicide in society. The number of people taking their own lives has increased and this is deeply worrying,” she says.