Volunteers Needed

Volunteer Opportunity for Students: Peer Support Warm Line and Group Facilitation

If you are a student seeking practical experience to advance your academic and career goals, we invite you to volunteer for our Mental Health Warm Line and peer-led group facilitation.

This role is well-suited for students interested in clinical or counseling psychology, mental health research, community psychology, or community health.

Benefits for Students

As a volunteer, you will:

* Apply concepts such as active listening, empathy, boundaries, and behavioral observation in real-world settings.

* Gain direct experience supporting individuals seeking emotional assistance, which is valuable for clinical training.

* Strengthen your applications for graduate school, research labs, assistant positions, and clinical practicum placements.

* Receive Trauma-Informed Peer Support (TIPS) training grounded in established mental health principles.

Develop practical skills in the following areas:

* Motivational interviewing foundations

* Crisis‑informed communication (non‑crisis warm line)

* Emotional regulation strategies

* Reflective practice

* Obtain official documentation of your volunteer hours to meet academic and professional requirements.

Trauma-Informed Practice

* Applying principles of safety, choice, collaboration, trust, and empowerment

* Understanding trauma responses and regulation strategies

Volunteer Roles

Warm Line Peer Support

* Offer non-crisis emotional support over the phone.

* Apply reflective listening, validation, and supportive communication techniques.

* Provide coping strategies and information about community resources.

* Document call summaries professionally and maintain confidentiality.

Group Co-Facilitation

* Support peer-led mental health support groups.

* Observe and assist with group dynamics in a trauma-informed environment.

* Participate in planning activities, check-ins, and guided discussions with trained facilitators, and help foster a supportive group atmosphere.

Ideal Candidates

We welcome applications from students who are:

* Empathetic, reliable, and grounded.

* Interested in peer support, trauma-informed practice, or community mental health.

* Comfortable engaging with diverse individuals.

* Eager to gain experience that complements coursework in:

* Personality and behavior

* Social psychology

* Mental health and addiction studies

To learn more or to express interest, please contact

Angela Barnor, HR Coordinator, at recruitment@hopeandme.ca.

Please fill out your application at https://hopeandme.org/get-involved/volunteer/.