Volunteer Access at Volunteer Victoria is looking for volunteers to join their Mental Health Visiting and Activity Program. This program focuses on providing individuals that are dealing with mental health issues or substance use challenges support and community involvement. For psychology students, this opportunity offers hands on experience with real people that are suffering from mental health issues. This is beyond important going forward in psychology because it shows that you know how to understand and respond to individuals that have mental illnesses. Additionally, you will gain references and networking opportunities related to psychology. Finally, the most important thing that you will get from volunteering in this program is an opportunity to truly make a difference in someone’s life. There are so many indisputably great benefits for psychology students if they become a volunteer, but what does a volunteer actually do?
After going through proper training, volunteers for the Mental Health and Activity Program are matched with a client from a mental health group home based off your interests, location, and availability. The main goals of this program is to provide community engagement, reduce social isolation, and create a therapeutic relationship that benefits the clients recovery. Volunteers can choose to take part in one-on-one activities with a client such as getting coffee, playing pool, going shopping, and watching sports. Volunteers also have the choice to take part or lead group activities like sports, games, music, or any other activity that you have a passion for. With all the benefits that this program offers, you must be wondering how you can sign up!
There is a very short list of qualifications that are needed if you would like to take part as a volunteer in this program. Firstly, there is an age restriction that only allows people to take part if they are 19 years old or older. Secondly, if you would like to volunteer you must volunteer for a minimum of 6 months and take part in at least once a week. Do you fit these qualifications? Are you looking to get hands on experience? Are you ready to brighten someone’s life? Then sign up right now by emailing the Volunteer Access program Coordinator, Corrine Mah at, corinne@volunteervictoria.bc.ca or phone at 250-386-2269. You can also find this opportunity at http://volunteervictoria.bc.ca/!
By: Christopher Davie