“If you are experiencing distress, grief, isolation or loneliness, this can be like a self-service reassurance hotline,” says the executive director, calling for community support
The Telecare Distress Line of Greater Simcoe hosts a fundraiser during the summer to help cover its annual operating costs.
Telecare was founded in Orillia in 1979 but has been a nationwide service since the 1960s. While call responders are not therapists or crisis workers, they can provide a listening ear to someone in need.
“It’s a place where people can just pick up the phone and talk to someone, and it doesn’t have to be about anything specific,” said executive director Kate Henderson OrilliaMatters. “If you are experiencing grief, sadness, isolation or loneliness, this can be like a self-help hotline.”
She says seniors and people with chronic illnesses or other limitations in physically participating in social life can call throughout the day.
“We’re connecting people with someone who cares for them before there’s a crisis or emergency,” she said. “By reaching people in the emergency phase, or even before it, we can create a safer community for everyone.”
Greater Simcoe’s Telecare Emergency Line has a team of 30 to 40 employees, and Henderson says the work is “personal” for many of the team members.
“Many of the volunteers have had personal experience of mental health issues or grief themselves or a loved one has,” she said. “They say it would have made a huge difference if they could have just picked up the phone and talked to someone.”
Henderson will be looking for new recruits in the fall. Anyone interested in volunteering can click here for more information.
The goal of the summer fundraiser “Sponsor a Line” is to raise $9,000 for the emergency service.
“We want to grow as an organization while having volunteers answer all calls,” Henderson said. “To grow our volunteer team, we need more staff to provide good training, supervision and support.”
Reaching the $9,000 goal would allow Telecare to increase outreach, provide suicide awareness training, and assist volunteers in discussing suicide and enabling them to recognize the signs that indicate someone is considering suicide.
“There’s just so much more potential,” Henderson said. “We’re trying to create a more connected and compassionate community where people can really support each other.”
For more information about the Greater Simcoe Telecare Distress Line, including how to donate to the fundraiser, click here.
