Every 26 minutes, someone in the interior receives the support they need thanks to the Interior Crisis Line Network (ICLN).
The invisible safety net is there when it is needed thanks to the many volunteers and staff.
During Crisis Line Awareness Week (March 24-31), the organizations is bringing awareness to the vital role crisis lines play across British Columbia.
Interior Crisis Line Responders, a collaboration of five community-based organizations across Cranbrook, Trail, Kelowna, Vernon, and Williams Lake, handled close to 20,000 calls last year alone, underscoring the crucial role that localized support plays in rural communities.
“We understand the unique challenges and resources available in the Interior because our volunteers and staff live in these communities,” said Sheila Dudek, supervisor of the Trail site (Trail FAIR Society).
ICLN’s dedicated efforts, span across three services including regional and provincial crisis lines, providing over 300,000 minutes of empathetic support, empowering crisis de-escalation, and critical interventions in 2023.
“Our expertise and regional knowledge are at the heart of the quality of service we provide. No matter where you are in the interior, if you have access to a phone, you have access to support 24/7 through our locally based crisis line responders,” said Shae-Lynn Sloan, supervisor of the ICLN site in Kelowna (KCR Community Resources).
These responders, consisting of both volunteers and staff, are deeply committed to offering compassionate assistance to individuals in need, regardless of the challenges they face.
“We are proud of the commitment of our team - staff and volunteers; they provide much-needed caring support for the people who reach out to us,” explains Shirley MacKinnon, ICLN program manager.
To honor the incredible work that Crisis Line Responders do, the network places a high priority on the well-being of its staff and volunteers.
All Crisis Line Responders undergo over 60 hours of comprehensive training and mentoring before responding to calls, explained Shirley MacKinnon, program manager. This training covers a range of topics, including the impact of trauma, stress management, self-care strategies, understanding the mental health continuum, conducting suicide risk assessments, and employing evidence-based de-escalation and assessment methods. Sites are equipped to support responders through regular debriefing and ongoing education.
Above all else, ICLN prides itself on being a community safety net whenever people need to hear a warm voice on the other end of the line.
“At the end of the day, crisis line work is about meeting people where they are at and providing genuine human connection,” said Natalie Hake, director for public education and crisis services at the Canadian Mental Health Association for the Kootenays.
“Having experienced the urgency of evacuating during a wildfire and the challenges of supporting our community through extreme heat or cold, we understand firsthand the importance of preparedness, resilience, and compassionate response in times of crisis,” shares Evan Pantanetti, coordinator of the ICLN Williams Lake site (Canadian Mental Health Association Cariboo Chilcotin Branch).
The ICLN offers immediate phone-based assistance around the clock for individuals navigating crisis, seeking resources, or managing their mental health.
Interior Crisis Line Network can be reached by phone at 1.888.353.2273(CARE), all-day, everyday, all year. It is a network made up of the five local crisis lines in the Interior Region and is funded by the Provincial Health Services Authority. Interested in volunteering, go to interiorcrisisline.com to sign up and learn more.
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