With a passion for helping people in their time of need, Jay volunteers his time for Lifeline Melbourne, which is operated by Uniting Vic.Tas.
Jay commenced his Lifeline training in September 2018.
Since January, he has spent three hours each week answering calls.
“The sense of helping another person work through their issues and go from potential catastrophe to having a plan and some hope in their lives is remarkable,” Jay said.
“I never thought I’d have the skills to do that before the Lifeline training.”
Lifeline volunteers come from a diverse range of backgrounds, but all have one thing in common – a sense of empathy that allows them to listen and respond warmly to the concerns of others.
Jay is currently studying psychology and has volunteered for many local charities in the past.
“To have the opportunity to be involved in someone’s life at that pointy end, when they are experiencing crisis, is a privilege,” he said.
“Many of us have or will experience mental health issues in our lifetime.”
“Volunteering gives you the opportunity to be there for someone when they need it most.”
Jay and his fellow Lifeline volunteers provide crisis support to people who are overwhelmed and need to reach out and talk to someone.
A person can experience crisis for many reasons, such as a relationship breakdown, loss of employment, the loss of a loved one, violence, trauma or the onset of mental health issues.
Lifeline volunteers are trained to guide someone through a situation, give them strategies to cope and provide some perspective.
Lifeline Melbourne accepts calls from all around Australia.
Find out more about becoming a Lifeline Melbourne volunteer.
