Kirkens Sos

What Kirkens Sos does

Kirkens SOS is Norway's largest 24/7 crisis telephone and internet service, founded in Oslo on February 15, 1974. The organization provides immediate emotional support to people experiencing life crises, suicidal thoughts, and loneliness through three core channels: SOS-telefonen (crisis phone at 22 40 00 40), SOS-chat (real-time chat at soschat.no, particularly used by young people under 30), and SOS-melding (asynchronous messaging available in Norwegian and North Sami with responses within 48 hours). Services are free and anonymous for users, and the organization is staffed by approximately 1,000-1,100 trained volunteers operating across 11 SOS centers nationwide plus a national secretariat in Oslo.

The underlying technology is a relatively low-tech, human-centered platform architecture: volunteers operate secure digital shift management tools to answer phone, chat, and messaging contacts around the clock every day of the year, including holidays. The organization explicitly avoids AI or automated tools, positioning itself as "exclusively human-powered." Geographic reach spans all major Norwegian regions (Agder, Bjørgvin, Borg, Digital, Innlandet, Møre og Romsdal, Nord-Hålogaland, Oslo, Rogaland, Telemark, Trøndelag, Tunsberg), with annual contact volumes of approximately 265,000-280,000, including ~52 conversations about suicidal thoughts per day.

Kirkens SOS operates as a non-profit voluntary organization (landsforening) funded through a mix of Norwegian government grants (~20 million NOK base state support), private donations (Vipps, bank transfers, gift certificates), corporate and foundation partnerships (Stiftelsen DAM, Gjensidigestiftelsen, Sparebankstiftelsen, Kavlifondet), and modest municipal contributions. Its annual operating budget is approximately 40 million NOK (with volunteer hours valued at over 70 million NOK if paid), and it is governed as a unified national association since January 2019. Crown Princess Mette-Marit serves as Royal Patron (since 2023). The organization is a member of IFOTES and Lifeline International, linking it into the global crisis helpline network.

Name

Kirkens Sos

Legal name

Kirkens SOS

Website

https://kirkens-sos.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kirkens SOS is Norway's largest volunteer-driven 24/7 crisis hotline, offering free anonymous phone, chat, and messaging support to people in emotional distress across 11 nationwide centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Crisis Support Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLALAEAI

Crisis Support, Suicide Prevention & Acute Behavioral Triage Platforms

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Telehealth Platforms/Behavioral & Mental Health Teletherapy Platforms

SECONDARYHLAEAHAK

Behavioral Health Crisis Services Management (988/Hotlines/Mobile Crisis Coordination)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Health Insurance & Managed Care/Managed Behavioral Health (MBHO)

SECONDARYEDALAFAD

Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Services

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Student Health, Counseling & Wellness Services

SECONDARYBPABANAF

Crisis Management & Communications Support (Mass Notification)

Business & Public Services/Facilities Management & Building Services/Emergency Preparedness and Response Services

Keywords

• Crisis hotline services
• Suicide prevention support
• Mental health helpline
• Volunteer counseling
• Emotional support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: State subsidies and public funding from Norwegian government; received approximately 20 million NOK in base state support with additional extraordinary allocations
2. Private Donations: Individual giving through Vipps (2407), bank transfers (give account 1506.90.51054), and gift certificates; also receives donations via Facebook
3. Corporate & Foundation Partnerships: Support from businesses and foundations including Stiftelsen DAM, Gjensidigestiftelsen, Sparebankstiftelsen Telemark-Grenland, Sparebanken Møre, and corporate campaign partners
4. Municipal Support: Operational funding applications submitted to municipalities annually, e.g., Vinje municipality allocated 60,000 NOK in 2025 budget

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Kirkens SOS provides free, anonymous, 24/7 crisis support services to individuals in life crises, suicidal distress, or emotional emergency through three core channels: a national crisis telephone line (SOS-telefonen, 22 40 00 40), a real-time online chat (SOS-chat at soschat.no), and an asynchronous written messaging service (SOS-melding, available in Norwegian and North Sami). The service is staffed entirely by approximately 1,000-1,100 trained volunteers across 11 regional SOS centres in Norway and a national secretariat in Oslo.

Product overview

Kirkens SOS is Norway's largest 24/7 crisis telephone and internet service staffed entirely by trained volunteers. The service consists of three core contact channels — SOS-telefonen (crisis telephone), SOS-chat (real-time chat), and SOS-melding (asynchronous written messaging available in Norwegian and North Sami) — supported by a national network of 11 local SOS centres and a national secretariat. Additional offerings include 'God å snakke med', a conversation skills course and book, and an international helplines directory. The service is exclusively human-powered, relying on volunteer listeners rather than automated or AI-driven tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SOS-telefonen (Crisis Phone) A 24/7 crisis telephone service at 22 40 00 40 staffed by trained volunteers who provide emotional support and compassionate listening to people in life crises. Available every day including holidays, it is Norway's largest round-the-clock crisis phone service.
• SOS-chat (SOS Chat) A real-time chat-based crisis service accessible at soschat.no, particularly used by young people under 30 (77% of chat users). Operated by trained volunteers with extended hours.
• SOS-melding (SOS Message) An asynchronous messaging service where users can send anonymous written messages and receive a reply within 48 hours. Available in Norwegian and North Sami languages.
• God å snakke med (Good to Talk With) A conversation course and published book by Kirkens SOS providing tools, tips and exercises to help people become better conversation partners, particularly in supporting others through difficult conversations.
• Internasjonale hjelpetelefoner (International Helplines) A curated guide linking users to 100+ national crisis helplines worldwide, including those affiliated with IFOTES and Lifeline International.
• Lokale SOS-sentre (Local SOS Centres) A network of 11 regional SOS centres across Norway (Agder, Bjørgvin, Borg, Digital, Innlandet, Møre og Romsdal, Nord-Hålogaland, Oslo, Rogaland, Telemark, Trøndelag, Tunsberg) plus a national secretariat in Oslo, coordinating volunteer recruitment, training, scheduling, and crisis response regionally.

Quantifiable outcome

• 265,000+ annual contacts from people in life crises
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VippscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2025Major Norwegian payment and financial services platform participating in 'Chat for livet' campaign by linking to SOS-chat in their customer app, helping reach more young people needing crisis support
• SpareBank 1coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2025Norwegian banking group participating in 'Chat for livet' campaign by linking to SOS-chat in their platforms
• TeliacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2025Major Norwegian telecommunications company participating in 'Chat for livet' campaign by linking to SOS-chat in their customer channels
• GjensidigecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2025Norwegian insurance company participating in 'Chat for livet' campaign by linking to SOS-chat in their customer platforms
• KLPcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2025Norwegian mutual insurance company for public sector employees participating in 'Chat for livet' campaign
• TikTok NorgecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2025Social media platform sending push notifications to all Norwegian users with the message 'Du er ikke alene' (You are not alone) as part of Chat for livet campaign
• Vy (NSB)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2025Norwegian railway company participating in Chat for livet campaign by sharing messaging about Kirkens SOS services
• IFOTESminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Federation of Telephone Emergency Services - Kirkens SOS is part of this international network of crisis helplines
• Lifeline InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network promoting and supporting member organizations in delivering lifesaving services to people in crisis - Kirkens SOS Norway participates

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Livslinjen (Denmark): Danish crisis helpline offering phone and chat support for people in suicidal distress; closely comparable in mission and operating model, serving the neighboring Nordic market.
• Telefonseelsorge (Germany): German church-affiliated 24/7 crisis telephone and chat service; closely comparable as a faith-rooted, volunteer-driven, multi-channel crisis helpline operating at national scale.

Direct peers

• Mental Helse: Norwegian peer-support and advocacy organization for people with mental health challenges; directly comparable as a community-led, volunteer-involved mental health support provider operating in the same Norwegian market.
• Kirkens Bymisjon: Norwegian church-affiliated social services organization offering community support, counseling, and crisis services; comparable as a faith-rooted non-profit with overlapping service lines and shared personnel pipelines.
• Crisis Text Line: US-based 24/7 text-based crisis support service relying on trained volunteers; directly comparable to Kirkens SOS's chat and messaging channels and volunteer-driven delivery model.
• Hjelpetelefonen for psykisk helse (Mental Helse Hjelpetelefonen): Norway's national 24/7 mental health helpline at 116 123, operated by Mental Helse; directly competes with Kirkens SOS's SOS-telefonen for the same crisis-caller population in Norway.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US): US national 24/7 suicide and crisis hotline offering phone, chat, and text; directly comparable in service model (free, anonymous, multi-channel crisis support) and national scale, though US-based.
• Samaritans (UK & Ireland): Long-established UK volunteer-led 24/7 emotional support helpline; directly comparable as a heritage volunteer-driven crisis hotline serving a national population.

Others

• IFOTES (International Federation of Telephone Emergency Services): International federation of crisis helplines of which Kirkens SOS is a member; relevant as a peer network and ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Røde Kors (Norwegian Red Cross): Large Norwegian humanitarian organization that runs mental health support and crisis response activities; comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping volunteer-driven crisis services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kirkensSOSNorge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kirkens-sos
• Instagraminstagram.com/kirkens_sos
• TikToktiktok.com/@kirkens.sos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kirkens Sos