SADAG looking for volunteer counsellors
Are you a good listener and a caring, compassionate friend?
Do you have a lot of empathy for those going through an emotionally difficult time and would you be prepared to offer them help and hope?
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) is looking for dedicated, mature people who are willing to share their time and who have had important life experiences which can often help our callers considerably to volunteer in the Mental Health Crisis Call Centre.
Offering free telephonic counselling, information on mental illness and referrals to mental healthcare professionals, Sadag is situated in Sandton and is looking for mature telephonic counsellors who would like to give back to the community by being the voice of hope for another person in their time of need.
Sadag runs a 15-line counselling-and-referral call centre and is known for its patient advocacy, education and de-stigmatisation of mental illness in South Africa.
Receiving an average of 400 calls per day, Sadag is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm and offers counselling to people battling with various mental illnesses, including depression, bipolar, anxiety and trauma.
Sadag counsellors of all ages provide hope for people who need information and feel isolated.
The NGO is currently looking for counsellors able to volunteer just four hours per week.
“Whether you are recovering yourself from a mental health problem, are studying psychology or simply have a passion for helping others, we would welcome telling you how we help,” says Sadag operations director, Cassey Chambers.
“Many of our counsellors volunteer because of a deep desire to help others.
“A lot of them have also personally experienced anxiety or depression and know how comforting it can be to talk to someone who understands when everything seems to be dark in your life.”
For more information or a volunteer counsellor application form, contact 011 011 234 4870 or you can also download the form at www.sadag.org – just click on the link under the ‘volunteer’ section on the front page.
