On the line: Concern Hotline still taking calls, in need of more volunteers

View larger image Concern Hotline's Sue Hildreth, left, volunteer coordinator, and Christine Mayman, right, executive director, are looking for volunteers to answer phones throughout the region for the agency. Rich Cooley/Daily Call the hotline Callers to Concern Hotline have access to trained volunteers 24 hours every day. The hotline is available for people who need to talk to someone, need information about services or need help in a crisis. Volunteers will not ask for the name of the caller, tell them what to do or judge. In Winchester and Frederick and Clarke counties, call 667-0145. In Shenandoah County, call 459-4742. In Warren County, call 635-4357. In Page County, call 743-3733. -- Source: Concern Hotline Recommend This Print This Get E-mail News Alerts Buy Photos/Page Reprints * Breaking News If local news is breaking and you know about it: * Call Us: 800-296-5137 * E-mail Us * Upload Your Photos View larger image Concern Hotline’s Sue Hildreth, left, volunteer coordinator, and Mayman are looking for volunteers to answer phones throughout the region for the agency. Rich Cooley/Daily View larger image Concern Hotline’s executive director, Christine Mayman, sits in the office at Cameron Street in Winchester. The hotline’s volunteers either take calls at the office or at their own homes. Rich Cooley/Daily

By Jessica Wiant -- jwiant@nvdaily.com
WINCHESTER -- In this day and age, people can communicate through everything from e-mails to text messages to video conferences, but sometimes it's a good old-fashioned phone call that does the trick.

Lucky for valley residents, phone calls are still Concern Hotline's specialty, even after more than 40 years.

The organization started in 1970 as a suicide-prevention hotline, but "pretty quickly" evolved into much more, according to its current executive director, Christine Mayman.
"It became a listening hotline," she said.

Manned by volunteers who are able to work either in the hotline's office or from their homes, Concern Hotline takes calls 24/7 and refers people to different resources available in the valley for help with everything from domestic abuse to finances.

Like so many other local organizations, Concern Hotline has seen a surge recently in mental health-related needs in the wake of a down economy and service cuts at Northwestern Community Services.

Having fewer services available in the area, especially for people without insurance, according to Mayman, has meant more calls to the hotline.

"It's had repercussions throughout the community," she said.

Not only are people calling for help with mental health needs, but some people are finding themselves, as a result of a sour economy, unemployed and having to ask for help for the first time in their lives, with no idea where to turn, Mayman said.

With as many calls as ever, Concern Hotline is actively seeking new volunteers to begin training in April.

The training is extensive -- 34 to 40 hours of classroom work -- and volunteers come from all walks of life, according to Sue Hildreth, volunteer coordinator.

Good candidates for manning the call line are people who are good listeners, Mayman said.

"We train our volunteers to listen, to clarify, to problem solve with people," she said.

As a volunteer opportunity, call shifts for Concern Hotline are attractive because they can be done from a person's home and in shorter periods, according to Mayman.

The training teaches volunteers about the different issues and resources available in the community, as well as active listening skills.

"I think everybody needs to know this stuff," Mayman said.

Volunteers have a sourcebook of information they use to help point callers in the right direction, but even when there isn't much they can do to help, they are available simply to listen.

The organization especially hopes to engage youths, who can sometimes feel as isolated as ever despite advances in technology, according to Mayman.

Whether the caller is 16 or 66, the people who take the calls are always compassionate and have empathy, Hildreth said.

"These are people who care," she said.

Mayman also pointed to the difference between Concern Hotline -- more of a listening line -- and the state's 211 program, which offers only referrals.

"This is people talking to people," she said. "So many people don't have somebody to call."
Volunteers often have their own life experiences to share with callers.

One female volunteer, 34, who asked to remain anonymous, said she came through a bad marriage and a layoff from her job before she started volunteering for Concern Hotline a few years ago.

"I do it because, I'm at home, it's not gonna hurt for me to answer the phone and help someone in need," she said.

For one male volunteer, 67, sharing his experience with coming through depression is gratifying.

"I was pretty bad off for quite a while," he says.

The hotline offers him a chance to share advice and sometimes make a real connection with people. He said he considers it more as something enjoyable than as a responsibility.
"I do actually get a lot out of it. If I didn't, I wouldn't be doing it," he says.

Kym Carpenter, a case manager at Behavioral Health in Winchester, also takes time to volunteer for Concern Hotline. She said whereas people who come to Behavioral Health are usually in some kind of crisis, those who call the hotline often simply need a listening ear.

"You don't have to solve people's problems. Sometimes listening is all they need," she said.

For more information about volunteer opportunities at Concern Hotline, call its office at 536-1630.