Inuvik (Apr 15/05) - Inuvik's only help line is on the verge of shutting down.

Unless more volunteers are found to help answer the phones, the Suicide Crisis Line can only be sustained for a couple more months, said Pauline Sestito, mental health and addictions counsellor at Inuvik's Family Counselling Centre.

Pauline Sestito, mental health and addictions counsellor at Inuvik's Family Counselling Centre, says without more volunteers, the service cannot be sustained. - Chris Hunsley/NNSL photo

"To my knowledge, since October it has been carried almost entirely by one volunteer."

Community commitment to the five-year-old initiative has dwindled from the high point about a year ago when 30 residents were ready to lend an ear and man the phones.

Now, only four names are listed as potential phone carriers for the service, which runs 24 hours a day on the weekends and from 5:30-8:30 p.m. weekdays.

The service is run solely off of donations.

"Anne," an anonymous volunteer since January, has been responsible for the line everyday for the last two weeks.

Groups of three volunteers generally share phone duties over a one-week period each month, according to Sestito.

More residents need to become involved, not only to help avoid volunteer burnout, but to offer a variety of potential support-givers for callers, said Anne.

There need to be different genders, family situations and life experiences, she said.

"I have felt in certain situations I could have helped more if I were married or had kids and could understand better."

Volunteers offer support, not counselling, Sestito stressed.

"They give information, not advice. It's peer support."

Along with a one-day training module that incorporates role play, facts and theory about suicide prevention, new recruits also examine their own feelings around the subject of suicide.

"We look at your values and beliefs so as not to allow anything to shadow someone's ability to help someone else," said Sestito.

A myriad of support services are available as resources for volunteers to help them in assisting callers, including meetings, ongoing access to counsellors, debriefings and consultations with the police and the hospital, said Sestito.

The volunteers are also offered extensive training.

"In the past three months there have just been a couple of times I questioned what I did," said Anne, who described the job as a learning experience that puts a new perspective on mental health issues.

Kids Help Phone and other national support lines may exist, but it's important to offer this service locally, said Sestito.

"The NWT has an epidemic of suicidal behaviour. There's a definite need for this line," said Sestito, who lends her own ear to the cause.

"It's good to have it here because it shows the community cares."

Simple call

For Anne, the best reason to fight to keep the line open is simple.

The calls are generally of an urgent nature and support is needed right then, she said.

For those interested in lending their time as a listening ear, a training session is scheduled April 23 at Inuvik's Centennial Library.

Contact the Family Counselling Centre at 777-4148 for more information.