Crisis Line Responder (Volunteer)

Have you ever wanted to give back to your community in a meaningful and enriching way? Now is your chance. Volunteers are a vital part of the Crisis Line. Every year, our highly skilled volunteers contribute more than 35,000 hours to our 24-hour crisis line, supporting our callers with sincere, delicate care and empathy.

Interested applicants should be:

• Empathetic
• Non-judgmental
• Open to feedback
• Comfortable operating a computer
• Respect the confidentiality of others
• If working remotely, have a stable internet connection.
• Volunteers should commit to a minimum of 16-20 hours per month.

Volunteers will undergo approximately 40 hours of virtual training, 20 hours of self-paced training and 20 hours of practical training before starting their role as a crisis line responder. No cost for all training .

Some of the topics covered are Crisis De-escalation, Mental Health, Boundaries, Suicide, Self Harm, Children at Risk, Abuse, Trauma, Violence and Homicide.

Although the training and the position can be intense, support is available for responders such as debriefing and access to support 24/7.

The abilities gained through volunteering on our Crisis Line are valuable not only for personal development but also in career opportunities and everyday life. Many volunteers find our program useful for developing marketable skills and exploring educational options.

The demand on our service is growing substantially and assisting our callers on our crisis lines is a way to not only make a positive influence in the life of the caller, but as well for your community. Each time you answer the phone, you know you’ve made a difference.

To apply, candidates must provide two references, be at least 19 years old, and undergo a criminal background check. Practicum students are also welcome to apply. This position can be fully remote, or if you live in the Vernon area, you are welcome to use our Crisis Line space.

If you are interested in becoming a crisis line volunteer, please apply on our CMHA-Vernon website only, using our Crisis Line Volunteer application form (Link below)

https://cmhavernon.ca/volunteer-with-us/ or please call 778-234-2203 for more information.

One of our team members will be in touch with all eligible applicants.