Distress Centre Niagara a Life Saving Service
Posted by Roseanne Morissette
"There are 3,000 suicide deaths in Canada in a one-year period, exceeding homicides or automotive accidents," notes Tara Cox, Program Manager for Distress Centre Niagara and guest speaker at the October 24, 2005 meeting of the Rotary Club of St. Catharines South.
Club Secretary Ron Kozub introduced Ms Tara Cox, Program Manager for the Distress Centre Niagara. Tara graduated from Brock University in 2000 with a First Class Honours degree in Sociology. She began volunteering for Distress Centre Niagara in February 1998 and became a staff member in August 2000. Tara is certified as a Living Works Trainer (Applied Skills in Suicide Intervention Training) and as a facilitator of "CHOICES," a youth suicide prevention education workshop for students. Tara's other volunteer and work experience include Niagara Victim Crisis Support Services, FACS, and Community Crisis Care Mental Health. Tara also takes time for herself - she is a dedicated and avid volleyball player.
Distress Centre of Niagara Inc. is a free, confidential, 24-hour telephone support service, which has served residents of the Niagara Region since 1970. Its crisis lines are answered by trained volunteer crisis workers who listen to callers' concerns, assist callers with solving their own problems, provide information and referrals to other community resources, and intervene in life-threatening situations, where appropriate.
Volunteer crisis workers participate in 21 hours of classroom training and a minimum of eight hours supervised training in the phone room before being alone on the crisis line. Volunteers are asked for a minimum of 12 hours of service per month for a one-year period. Anyone who is interested in volunteering can call the crisis line to start the process of getting more information on this important and rewarding opportunity. Training sessions are offered four to five times annually.
In addition, Distress Centre Niagara Inc. provides information and presentations free-of-charge to other non-profit community organizations, community members, schools and groups in the areas of suicide prevention/intervention and communication skills. They also offer an intensive two-day workshop "Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), facilitated by certified ASIST trainers. There is a cost associated with this workshop and it is offered several times annually.
The service provided by Distress Centre Niagara is potentially beneficial to all residents of the Niagara region. Someone is always available on the crisis line - 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year - to provide support to individuals experiencing distressing situations and emotions, caregivers who are concerned about someone, individuals when their usual supports are not available round the clock, and so on. Someone is available to anyone, at anytime, for anything.
For this reason, it is important that residents of Niagara are aware of this service and are educated regarding how to access support. The crisis line numbers can be found in the front pages of our local phone book, listed with other emergency services. Anyone who may be interested in obtaining promotional materials for their office, school, organization, or personal use, can call the crisis line and the volunteer will take your contact information. Materials available include a brochure describing their service, three different bookmark types and a business card style handout. A "Suicide Help Card" is provided on the back of each bookmark and business card. Also available is a brochure to describe the ASIST workshop.
Distress Centre Niagara is dependent upon funding from the four local United Way agencies and private donations. Funds are used to recruit, screen, train, supervise, and recognize the caring volunteers who offer their time and compassion to approximately 15,000 callers annually, and to provide educational opportunities to our community and its citizens.
How to reach Distress Centre Niagara:
St. Catharines and Niagara Falls Area - 905-688-3711
Port Colborne, Wainfleet, and Area - 905-734-1212
Fort Erie and Area - 905-382-0689
Grimsby, West Lincoln and Area - 905-563-6674
Questions were asked, and Tara was thanked by Dan Toppari for her excellent and informative presentation.
Distress Centre of Niagara Inc. is a free, confidential, 24-hour telephone support service, which has served residents of the Niagara Region since 1970. Its crisis lines are answered by trained volunteer crisis workers who listen to callers' concerns, assist callers with solving their own problems, provide information and referrals to other community resources, and intervene in life-threatening situations, where appropriate.
Volunteer crisis workers participate in 21 hours of classroom training and a minimum of eight hours supervised training in the phone room before being alone on the crisis line. Volunteers are asked for a minimum of 12 hours of service per month for a one-year period. Anyone who is interested in volunteering can call the crisis line to start the process of getting more information on this important and rewarding opportunity. Training sessions are offered four to five times annually.
In addition, Distress Centre Niagara Inc. provides information and presentations free-of-charge to other non-profit community organizations, community members, schools and groups in the areas of suicide prevention/intervention and communication skills. They also offer an intensive two-day workshop "Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), facilitated by certified ASIST trainers. There is a cost associated with this workshop and it is offered several times annually.
The service provided by Distress Centre Niagara is potentially beneficial to all residents of the Niagara region. Someone is always available on the crisis line - 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year - to provide support to individuals experiencing distressing situations and emotions, caregivers who are concerned about someone, individuals when their usual supports are not available round the clock, and so on. Someone is available to anyone, at anytime, for anything.
For this reason, it is important that residents of Niagara are aware of this service and are educated regarding how to access support. The crisis line numbers can be found in the front pages of our local phone book, listed with other emergency services. Anyone who may be interested in obtaining promotional materials for their office, school, organization, or personal use, can call the crisis line and the volunteer will take your contact information. Materials available include a brochure describing their service, three different bookmark types and a business card style handout. A "Suicide Help Card" is provided on the back of each bookmark and business card. Also available is a brochure to describe the ASIST workshop.
Distress Centre Niagara is dependent upon funding from the four local United Way agencies and private donations. Funds are used to recruit, screen, train, supervise, and recognize the caring volunteers who offer their time and compassion to approximately 15,000 callers annually, and to provide educational opportunities to our community and its citizens.
How to reach Distress Centre Niagara:
St. Catharines and Niagara Falls Area - 905-688-3711
Port Colborne, Wainfleet, and Area - 905-734-1212
Fort Erie and Area - 905-382-0689
Grimsby, West Lincoln and Area - 905-563-6674
Questions were asked, and Tara was thanked by Dan Toppari for her excellent and informative presentation.
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