Austria's youth helpline quadruples peer counsellors to meet surging demand
The youth support service Rat auf Draht is expanding its peer counselling team by four times due to rising demand. Originally a pilot project in 2021, the service now provides weekly chat sessions for young people aged 16 to 23. Organisers plan to hire 400 additional counsellors by 2026 to meet the growing need for support.
Rat auf Draht offers structured peer counselling every Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Sessions cover predefined themes like friendship, bullying, and relationship struggles. The service does not handle crisis interventions, instead referring urgent cases to trained professionals.
In 2025, the number of counselling sessions rose by 30%, reaching 264 in total. To qualify as a peer counsellor, applicants must be aged 16 to 23 and have personal experience with mental health challenges. They also need completed training, strong empathy, resilience, and German language skills at B2 level.
Applications for the new roles are open until March 15, 2026. The expansion aims to ensure more young people can access timely support through the service.
The organisation will add 400 counsellors by 2026, significantly increasing its capacity. The move follows a sharp rise in session numbers and reflects the service's role as a key resource for young people. Those interested in joining the team must apply before the March 2026 deadline.
