Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Middlesex
CMHA Middlesex Support Line Coming Soon!
The Support Line will provide confidential listening and support to individuals 16 and older at any time of day or night for people needing support. Whether you are anxious, depressed, lonely, overwhelmed or just need to talk something through with someone, you will find a supportive and caring person at our end of the line.
FAQs
What will people call about?
If you are experiencing a crisis or are looking to connect with mental health and addictions supports, you can call the Crisis Response Line at 519-433-2023 or 1-866-933-2023.
The Support Line will be a therapeutic listening line that is part of our regions support services for mental health and addictions. The Support Line will provide individuals with support when they are experiencing distress - which is a personal and unique experience. Some examples may include:
- Problems in a relationship with a spouse, a partner, a sibling, a friend or a family member
- Individuals have noticed changes in their mental health
- A recent diagnosis of a mental illness or addiction
- Feeling lonely or isolated
- Experiencing emotional or physical pain
- Grieving the loss of a loved one
- Feeling fearful
- Recovering from an addiction
- Experiencing a high level of stress following a recent event
- Concerned about the well-being of a loved one
How will the Support Line be part of the regional Crisis Response Line?
If you are experiencing a mental health and/or addictions crisis, you can call the Crisis Response Line at 519-433-2023 or 1-866-933-2023. Staff will determine how best to support your needs, and if you would benefit from speaking to one of the Support Line volunteers, they will be able to provide a warm transfer to our line. Individuals who may not be in crisis but would like to contact the line directly will be able to do so by directly calling our number.
Who can call this line?
The Support Line will be available to individuals who are 16 and older. All calls will be confidential and volunteers will be available 24/7 to provide a listening ear or support. If you are experiencing a crisis, volunteers will be able to provide a warm transfer to crisis staff or the Crisis Response Line.
When will this service be available?
The expected launch date of this service is being established at this time. We expect it will be available in the fall of 2016.
Where will the Support Line be located?
The Support Line will be located at the Mental Health & Addictions Crisis Centre in London, Ontario. The volunteers will be an important part of the core services including many mental health and addictions professionals and will provide listening support to individuals who would benefit from a listening ear. In the event that a caller is in crisis, volunteers will be able to connect the caller with appropriate crisis services.
What services will the Support Line provide?
The Support Line will be answered 24/7 by volunteers. Individuals may call the line directly or may be transferred from staff at the Crisis Response Line who can provide crisis support, information and referral. Support Line Services include:
- Emotional support and encouragement
- Support for families, loved ones and caregivers
- Connection to peer supports
- Community resource/referral information
- Warm transfer to crisis services if needed
I am interested in being a volunteer. How do I apply?
You can download and fill out our Support Line Volunteer Application Form here. Once it is complete, you can send it to volunteers@cmhamiddlesex.ca and our staff will connect with you about next steps. If you are having difficulty with the application form or don’t have access to a computer, we will be happy to send you an application by mail if you contact us at 519-668-0624 ext 287.
What kind of commitment does the Support Line require?
Volunteers are asked to commit to 150 volunteer hours for a minimum of 1 year. After completion you will be eligible to receive a letter of reference from CMHA Middlesex for your volunteer experience. Within that year, volunteers are required to fulfill 150 hours, 40 of those hours being overnight shifts. We will work with your schedule to best arrange these hours.
What type of training will volunteers receive?
Volunteers for the Support Line will be required to take a core program of mental health and addictions training which amounts to about 20 hours of training. This will be provided regularly and at various times in order to best accommodate schedules. It is very important that all volunteers participate in this training prior to becoming a volunteer with the Support Line. In addition, volunteers will also receive training on CMHA Middlesex policies and procedures, which include Privacy & Confidentiality practices, Health and Safety and Duty to Report.
After I apply, what happens next?
Once your completed application is received, you will be contacted by our Community Engagement Coordinator for a telephone screening interview. If at this time the Support Line volunteer role seems to be a good fit for the applicant, then a face-to-face interview will be scheduled to further determine the applicant’s eligibility. After the full recruitment process has been completed and a volunteer has been accepted as a Support Line volunteer, then the Community Engagement Coordinator will proceed to scheduling the required training shifts for the applicant.
Please note: It is necessary for all volunteers to possess a current Vulnerable Person's Screening, prior to beginning a volunteer role. If an applicant does not have a Vulnerable Person's Screening at the time of the interview, then the Community Engagement Coordinator can assist qualifying applicants with this step of the process.
Is there a minimum age restriction to become a Crisis Line Volunteer?
Yes. Volunteers need to be at least 18 years of age.
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