Online crisis chat volunteer - learn crisis intervention & suicide prevention skills

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IMAlive is the world's first online crisis center with 100% of its volunteers trained and certified in crisis intervention. People in crisis who are scared to call a hotline or feel more comfortable talking to someone online, rather than on the phone, reach out for support via chat. All IMAlive chats are answered by IMAlive Volunteer Responders who have taken a 20-hour online training course in crisis intervention. All chats are supervised to make sure that when a volunteer needs help - a supervisor provides the support they need.

We are looking for online volunteers who are

• dedicated to the cause of suicide prevention
  
• self-motivated
  
• organized and punctual
  
• willing to receive feedback and learn from it
• empathetic
• non-judgemental

REQUIREMENTS:

- independent broadband internet connection and a personal computer

-4 hours A WEEK of available time, for a period of ONE YEAR (4 hours a week x 52 weeks = approx. 200 hours).

The training takes up to thirty (30 days) and is conducted online, so you can learn at your own pace* and in your own home. You will learn about suicide risk factors and protective factors, crisis intervention and active listening, and most importantly, how to interact empathetically with someone in crisis.

The first part of the training - the HEART course - includes video modules and quizzes. The second part of the training includes many opportunities to watch other volunteers and supervisors do role-play online, but the key is active participation and willingness to receive feedback. Each IMAlive Volunteer has a Supervisor who helps them throughout the training from the moment they start fundraising.

The online training for volunteers costs $250. This includes the HEART video course and support, facilitated practice sessions with other volunteers and supervisors, and the HEART Final Competency Exam as well as access to additional training updates. We understand that the training cost may be a deal breaker for many, so we help volunteers raise the fee by posting their volunteer profile on the IMAlive website.

People will most likely contact IMAlive because they need information about how to get help, have questions about where to turn next, or just need someone to listen to them at one of the most difficult times in their life. It can take people up to two years of interaction with a professional mental health worker to feel comfortable saying things that they will confide to an IMAlive volunteer right away. That volunteer can be you, and even though the experience can be stressful, knowing you've been able to lend a hand in a crisis is one of the most rewarding experiences imaginable.

Frequently asked questions

https://www.imalive.org/volunteer-online/

Apply to become a volunteer

https://app.cries.net/volunteer/login.html

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https://app.cries.net/volunteer/index.html#/volunteers