When Alyssa Christmas hangs up the phone after a call has come in to the she害羞草研究所檚 usually left feeling 害羞草研究所減retty good.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 know I was there when someone needed me to be,害羞草研究所� she explained.

害羞草研究所淲e like to say that, we don害羞草研究所檛 just save lives, we change them.害羞草研究所�

And while she can never be completely sure if her words have helped, Christmas focuses less on what could go wrong and more on offering 害羞草研究所渁 kind, listening ear害羞草研究所� when it害羞草研究所檚 needed most.

One resident, who requested anonymity, said sometimes, that害羞草研究所檚 all it takes.

害羞草研究所淚f it weren害羞草研究所檛 for the Crisis Line being there to take my call at 2 a.m., I wouldn害羞草研究所檛 be here,害羞草研究所漷he one-time caller said.

Christmas said she maintains perspective by practicing 害羞草研究所渟elf-care害羞草研究所� and not 害羞草研究所渢aking her work home害羞草研究所� with her 害羞草研究所� both of which are encouraged among the volunteers who staff the three CMHA operated distress lines, (1-888-353-CARE), Mental Health Support Line, and 1-800-SUICIDE.

The calls can be emotionally demanding, but Christmas, who is also program support manager for the Vernon害羞草研究所檚 Crisis Line and Good Morning program, says it leaves you feeling as though you害羞草研究所檝e made a difference.

That害羞草研究所檚 why she害羞草研究所檚 hoping a few 害羞草研究所渂ig-hearted害羞草研究所� people will come forward and answer her call 害羞草研究所� the one for volunteers.

Currently, Christmas said the organization has 25 active volunteers to cover 144 hours per week.

害羞草研究所淲e have more people calling and less people to take the calls,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 hoping for about 10 new volunteers in our May training.害羞草研究所�

In 2017, the crisis line answered 5,708 calls 害羞草研究所� up from 5,210 calls in 2016. Christmas attributes the increase in calls to better advertising of the Crisis Line and a general shift in attitude about mental health.

害羞草研究所淚 would like to think there is less stigma around mental health now, and that people are feeling more comfortable reaching out if they need to,害羞草研究所� she said.

She says change of season typically leads to a spike in calls, but that is 害羞草研究所減retty consistent.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e usually see more calls around Christmas, when people might be feeling more stress or are maybe having a difficult time. We also see more calls in early January when the days are shorter 害羞草研究所� but we have a steady baseline throughout the year.害羞草研究所�

Christmas says people call for a variety of reasons 害羞草研究所� callers aren害羞草研究所檛 always suicidal or beset by 害羞草研究所渦nfixable crises.害羞草研究所�

Emotional support, crisis intervention, depression, isolation, addiction concerns, family and relationship issues, grief, health concerns, abuse, mental health, sexuality, legal, financial, food and shelter, emergency services, youth and seniors issues, she said, are just a few of those concerns that prompt people to seek out the crisis line.

害羞草研究所淲e also have people call that are concerned for a friend, family member or coworker.害羞草研究所�

One in three calls, she said, are people reaching out for support to self-manage their mental health concerns rather than escalating and requiring more 害羞草研究所渋ntrusive interventions.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淥ur volunteers effectively support people so less than six per cent of our calls require intervention,害羞草研究所� she added.

However, when a person needs or desires professional help Christmas said volunteers are knowledgeable on appropriate services and agencies.

Volunteers undergo training in two stages害羞草研究所� a classroom setting, and in a one-on-one environment, which includes comprehensive practice and review of procedures and policy before volunteers begin answering calls. They are also given an opportunity to observe volunteers taking calls. Christmas said support is also always available when they害羞草研究所檙e taking calls.

Anyone interested in volunteering must be over 18 and is asked to fill out an application online at

The next training dates are May 7, 10, 14, 17 and 24 from 4 - 8 p.m. and May 26 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. A second training session will be offered in October.

Erin Christie

Morning Star Staff