Friendship Line

Are you feeling lonely, isolated or depressed? Give the Friendship Line a call โ€“ because sometimes we all need a friend.

888.670.1360

The Friendship Line is Californiaโ€™s largest warm line, and has never gone unanswered since it was founded in 1973 by Dr. Patrick Arbore. Dr. Arboreโ€™s observation that โ€œconnection to others binds us to lifeโ€ led him to establish the Friendship Line, which provides phone calls that offer emotional support and friendly conversation.

Institute on Agingโ€™s staff and volunteers respond to more than 11,000 inbound and outbound calls per month. The nationally-known Friendship Line is a signature program of Institute on Agingโ€™s Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention and Grief-Related Services, and is accredited by the American Association of Suicidology.

Call us Toll-Free in California: 888.670.1360

For Volunteer or Intern Opportunities, contact Aleks Bartlett at abartlett@ioaging.org

This program serving the community is funded by the following:

  • The California Department of Aging

  • City of San Franciscoโ€™s Department of Disability and Aging Services

Program Services

Friendship Line

  • Emotional support in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Korean
  • Specialized support for adults ages 60 and older, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers

Center for Elder Suicide Prevention and Grief Services

  • Virtual grief and bereavement support groups

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