The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) seeks dedicated individuals to volunteer as telephonic counsellors to those suffering from mental illness.
According to the support group, the demand for more ears is due to the vast increase in calls at their centre in Sandton, which answers an average of 600 calls, handles hundreds of emails, SMSes, Facebook and Twitter posts all in a day’s work.
“New volunteers attend a two-day training workshop which will be taking place on 29 September and 6 October,” read a statement issued by the group.
“The training also includes 12 onsite sessions at the call centre while working with senior counsellors.”
Volunteers have an option of working morning or evening shifts which run from 8am to noon, noon to 4pm or 4pm to 8pm, seven days a week.
Encouraging community members to give their time for the greater good, a volunteer in his 60s who chose to remain anonymous said, “Working on the evening shifts after a day at work, helping other people who have problems by giving advice, referrals and someone they can confide in, is so rewarding for me.”
Sadag currently has more than 140 volunteer counsellors who give of their time, skills and support to people who need assistance, guidance and referrals in dealing with a number of mental health issues.
These include depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts.
Volunteers must be mature, kind and patient individuals, based in Johannesburg, and willing to commit to a four-hour shift per week.
For more information on volunteering at Sadag or for a volunteer counsellor application form, download the form at www.sadag.org or call 0800 70 80 90 and speak to Michelle.
For interviews, please email Kayla Phillips at media@anxiety.org.za or Tracy Mukute at research@anxiety.org.za or call on 011 234 4837.
