Volunteers needed to have a chat
28 July 2010
Are you an older or mature person looking to volunteer and help in your community?
Think you can put aside the stigma often association with mental illness?
Can you spare the time to have a chat and reminisce?
Hunter New England Health’s Mental Health Services for Older People is launching a new volunteer program called ‘Havachat’.
Hunter New England Mental Health Manager of Volunteer Services Bronwyn Kavanagh said the program aims to help clients who are over 65 and living with a mental illness.
“As the name suggests, it is literally about volunteers taking the time to have a chat with our clients,” Bronwyn said.
“We are looking for volunteers who are confident and calm, who can visit with patients, chat comfortably, reminisce, and maybe play a game of cards or dominos or the like.
“Our volunteers don’t necessarily have to be over 65 themselves, but we are looking for people who can perhaps relate to the life experience of many of our patients. Maybe they are of a similar age and can share memories of events or places. They may even share cultural backgrounds,” Bronwyn said.
“Often there are people in the community who have perhaps retired, who are looking for a sense of purpose or a way of contributing. They have skills and a lifetime of experience to draw on, and we would love to hear from them.
“Volunteering in mental health isn’t going to suit everyone, and it isn’t the traditional volunteering role people may think of, but it can be very rewarding,” she said.
Volunteers would work in the specialist Mental Health Services for Older People unit at the new Mental Health Centre, which is part of Hunter New England Health and located at The Mater campus, next door to the Calvary Mater Newcastle hospital.
Nurse Manager for Mental Health Services for Older People Elizabeth Grist said volunteers would receive education and training in working as a mental health volunteer but would not be working with high risk patients.
“Probably about two-thirds of our clients at any given time are experiencing anxiety or depression,” Elizabeth said.
“Just having someone to talk to, to have a game of cards with, someone to look forward to seeing are simple things that can make such a difference in their lives.”
Anyone interested in volunteering with the Mental Health Service for Older people, or with Hunter New England Mental Health generally, should contact Bronwyn Kavanagh on 4033 5000 (during business hours) for further information.
Contact: Frances Holz
Phone: 4939 2216