Meet Stephen, a volunteer on our 24-Hour Crisis Line! Stephen’s path to volunteering was deeply personal. Having experienced his own moments of crisis, he understands the transformative impact of having someone to talk to. Inspired by the support he received, Stephen wanted to give back to the community.
“I have benefitted from having other people I could speak with. And I thought that if I could do that for someone else, this would be a worthwhile use of my time.”
As a publisher, Stephen has always been drawn to the unique stories people carry. Through his work on the lines, he’s found meaning in helping service users not only share those stories but begin to reclaim their voice and forge a path forward.
“Everyone comes with their own story and sometimes expressing it to yourself or someone else can be really valuable. You learn something new about yourself, or something that you’ve forgotten, and you get to refine your story in the process of talking about it.”
Volunteering on our 24-Hour Crisis Line has been a journey of personal and professional growth for Stephen. He highlights the development of essential skills he’s learned in his two years of being on the lines, such as active listening and providing others with the space to express themselves.
But Stephen’s main takeaway has been that diversity is one of the main strengths Distress Centre has to offer. It not only benefits our service users but also allows our volunteers to garner an inclusive community where they can learn from each other and grow as a team.
“There’s a wide variety of different responders on the lines from different walks of life and with different backgrounds. There’s a lot of training that’s offered to new volunteers, but ultimately it comes down to having genuine human interactions with other people. We benefit significantly from having a wide variety of responders to take those calls.”
Stephen’s dedication makes a real difference in the lives of the people he supports. We’re so grateful for the care he brings to every conversation. Thank you, Stephen!
Want to make a difference in your community like Stephen? Volunteer with Distress Centre!
