Monday, 2/24/97
Peer Helpline provides benefits to staff, callers
COUNSELING: Student volunteers balance stress of job with
camaraderie, satisfaction of helping others
By Gregory Mena
Daily Bruin Contributor
UCLA freshmen typically worry about choosing classes, finding a
major and making some new friends. Why would any student add to
these pressures by tackling the problems of the UCLA community as
well?
For Betty Gershon, the decision to join the Peer Helpline was
more of a benefit than a burden.
"At first, I was a little intimidated, but I was willing to put
in the time," she said. "It’s kind of like a great high to hear
someone slowly get better."
More than a year later, Gershon, a second-year microbiology
student, is one of the two outreach directors of the program.
In the Fall and Winter Quarters, there is a small group of UCLA
students, like Gershon, who are trained to join the Helpline staff.
Student Psychological Services funds the Peer Helpline, where
listeners either handle problems themselves or give referrals.
Among other issues, the Helpline takes calls about drug and
alcohol use, depression, loneliness, relationships, rape, stress
and suicide.
For 26 years, the Helpline has trained new volunteers to listen
to the UCLA community. While giving their time, volunteers say that
they not only receive the satisfaction of helping others but also
make close friends.
Each potential listener attends one four-hour training session
for eight weeks to learn crucial information about communication
and listening.
"The administrative staff evaluates the new trainees weekly and
gives them practice trials," said Christina Diaz, a volunteer at
the Helpline. "The training is very rigorous and approximately a
third of those who complete the training are accepted," she
added.
Commenting on why the training is so rigorous, Diaz said, "(The
administrative staff) needs to make sure that each person is
trained to take the calls."
The students tend to be psychology majors, but people from all
majors are represented. Diaz, who is a fourth-year English student,
said that although the volunteers are a very diverse group, they do
share something in common.
"The program attracts a certain kind of people," according to
Betty Gershon. "They are people who are willing to be there for
others and to go through a problem with someone."
Since 1971, the Helpline has been run by volunteers, offering an
open invitation to any members the UCLA community, whether they are
suffering from a major problem or just need to talk.
"People tend to have a stigma. People tend to think that their
problem is not big enough or that their problem is too big,"
explained Diaz. "We are out there to listen to anyone about
anything," she added.
Approximately 60 volunteers answer phones for eight hours each
week day, and four hours on the weekends. The number of calls
varies from day to day, said Gershon.
"Sometimes the phones are ringing off the hook, and sometimes
you only get a few calls," said Gershon.
Volunteers say that they are intrigued by listening to other
peoples’ problems. One listener said that she feels that people are
essentially different when they call for help, that people are
truly themselves when going through a problem.
"I think interaction with people in those situations is
fascinating. It touches a part of you," she said.
All phone calls, the names of the listeners and even the
location of the Helpline are confidential and anonymous. Since they
can’t share anything about their calls to anyone, the staff say
that they rely on each other for support.
"Sometimes it gets very intense," said Diaz, adding that it
helps to have other listeners around for support.
The Helpline staff say that the social side of the Helpline
helps them to maintain their morale and strengthen friendships.
"The social aspect is a big part of the Helpline," said Diaz.
"We organize events, plan dinners and various theme parties."
The volunteers say that the valuable friendships they have made
on the Helpline have been an important part of the experience.
"The people on the Helpline are very close-knit," said Gershon.
She also said that many volunteers gather at the Helpline location
even if they are not scheduled to give their time that day. Many
people just go to hang out and be with their friends.
Diaz, recalling her experience with the Helpline, encourages
people to sign up.
"Anyone interested can call the Helpline," she said. "It is an
incredible feeling knowing that this person on the other line is
trusting you with fears, secrets and pain (because) they feel they
can trust you."