When Alyssa Christmas hangs up the phone after a call has come in to the she香蕉视频直播檚 usually left feeling 香蕉视频直播減retty good.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 know I was there when someone needed me to be,香蕉视频直播� she explained.

香蕉视频直播淲e like to say that, we don香蕉视频直播檛 just save lives, we change them.香蕉视频直播�

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 香蕉视频直播渁 kind, listening ear香蕉视频直播� when it香蕉视频直播檚 needed most.

One resident, who requested anonymity, said sometimes, that香蕉视频直播檚 all it takes.

香蕉视频直播淚f it weren香蕉视频直播檛 for the Crisis Line being there to take my call at 2 a.m., I wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be here,香蕉视频直播漷he one-time caller said.

Christmas said she maintains perspective by practicing 香蕉视频直播渟elf-care香蕉视频直播� and not 香蕉视频直播渢aking her work home香蕉视频直播� with her 香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 Crisis Line and Good Morning program, says it leaves you feeling as though you香蕉视频直播檝e made a difference.

That香蕉视频直播檚 why she香蕉视频直播檚 hoping a few 香蕉视频直播渂ig-hearted香蕉视频直播� people will come forward and answer her call 香蕉视频直播� the one for volunteers.

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

香蕉视频直播淲e have more people calling and less people to take the calls,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 hoping for about 10 new volunteers in our May training.香蕉视频直播�

In 2017, the crisis line answered 5,708 calls 香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淚 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,香蕉视频直播� she said.

She says change of season typically leads to a spike in calls, but that is 香蕉视频直播減retty consistent.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲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 香蕉视频直播� but we have a steady baseline throughout the year.香蕉视频直播�

Christmas says people call for a variety of reasons 香蕉视频直播� callers aren香蕉视频直播檛 always suicidal or beset by 香蕉视频直播渦nfixable crises.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淲e also have people call that are concerned for a friend, family member or coworker.香蕉视频直播�

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 香蕉视频直播渋ntrusive interventions.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淥ur volunteers effectively support people so less than six per cent of our calls require intervention,香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檙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