Tullamore woman says ''You Have It In You ''
Catherine Kerwin from Tullamore, is a volunteer with 50808 which is a free 24/7 anonymous text support line that people can contact if they are experiencing mental health difficulties. It's staffed by fully trained volunteers. 50808 has launched its new volunteer recruitment campaign ‘You Have It In You’.
The ‘You Have It In You’ campaign aims to show that everyone has their own personal 50808 volunteer, that friend or family member who just knows what to say when it comes to helping us through tough times. 50808 wants these potential volunteers to recognise their own talents and take the chance to help others for whom a simple conversation would mean so much. Becoming a 50808 volunteer can help countless others around Ireland.
Catherine Kerwin's advice to anyone who is thinking about volunteering but who may be apprehensive is to; ‘’do it straight away. One of the things I love is that from the minute I started training with them, even to this day after nearly 380 conversations, I have always felt supported the whole way along. Even when you are interacting with a texter you can tap out and check into your supervisor and start a conversation with them. You are always supported. There has never been a time when I didn't feel supported. You can also interact with other volunteers and there is always an opportunity to debrief with your supervisor if you have a difficult conversation with a texter,’’ she adds.
‘’Don’t let the fear of what you could be dealing with throw you off. All that is looked at, you are trained, you are carefully walked through it, if you want to help someone you can do it from the comfort of your own home. I love it.’’
Catherine got started with the service after seeing it on Facebook.
‘’ I saw a post come up and I was curious to find out what it was about. I found out they were looking for volunteers to train to be crisis volunteers.’’
Unsure at first she contacted the HSE to find out if it was a legitimate organisation and was told absolutely yes. After that she sent an email and 18 months later she is still volunteering.
‘’You need to be over 18. You can be from any background or any walk of life. You consent to reference checks and Garda vetting. You agree to help the texter regardless of the issues. 30 hours of training is provided over 6 or 7 weeks. It's all online. You commit to 200 hours of volunteering. If you break it down to a minimum of 4 hours a week, it doesn't feel like it for me. I don't have to travel. I do the hours that suit me, because it’s 24/7 there is loads of time for me to interact with texters with a cup of coffee in my hand. I am never stressed out because it's in my home.’’
When someone first texts in they get an automated message. Usually they would text either ‘’talk’’ or ‘’help’’ or ‘’chat’’. They are then told about the rules and regulations of the service. A second automated message asks if they want to give a brief outline of their issue. Again it could be the word ‘’help, or ‘’tired of living '’’. After that they are put straight through to a crisis volunteer.
Catherine could deal with up to three texters during her two hour slots.
‘’We are only allowed to deal with one texter at a time. It's all confidential. The way the service works someone comes and texts in, they may be in a heightened place like a relationship break down, our role is not to fix it. They get to say what they want to say. If I am concerned that someone is at imminent risk of taking their life I will flag it to my supervisor. The supervisor has the ability to get the emergency services if necessary. I would remain on the line, still trying to encourage whoever it is.’’
Catherine says the entire service is anonymous and those who text in don’t have to give their name if they don’t want to.
Texters can also give feedback afterwards about how they felt the session went.
Grace Vaughey, Head of Training and Coaching at 50808, said “Volunteering with 50808 is not just an opportunity to help so many other people, but also gives you the chance to receive invaluable active listening training and supervision as well as formal recognition for the amazing support you are to so many. We provide a safe space where you will be trained to listen to texters who want to be heard. You’ll message back and forth with the texter only sharing what they feel comfortable with. By asking questions, you will listen and respond with support, helping texters sort through their feelings until you both feel the texter is in a calm, safe place.”
If you think you have it in you to be a 50808 volunteer, then just log on to www.text50808.ie/volunteer and complete the online application form. You will then be registered for upcoming training courses which take 30 hours to complete. Training is entirely online, remote and mostly self-paced over a 6 week period, ensuring volunteers can fit it in around their schedules. Please note that all volunteers are subject to reference checks and Garda vetting, but the aim is to make this process as smooth and seamless as we can for all applicants.