Volunteers Needed For North Bay's Suicide Prevention & Crisis Hotline

NORTH BAY, CA — Buckelew Programs, the North Bay's largest nonprofit provider of comprehensive mental health care services, announced it is seeking volunteers to help answer calls to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Based in Novato, Buckelew operates one of 13 California call centers in the national 988 network, which launched in mid-July. Like other call centers around the country, Buckelew reports it is experiencing an increase in new callers during the roll-out of this new easy-to-remember dialing code. Following the pandemic and social injustice events in our communities, Buckelew anticipates more people will call 988 as they experience delayed trauma responses, the nonprofit said Thursday in a news release.

"988 is more than just an easy-to-remember number — it is a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health distress," said Pat Gallagher, chief philanthropy officer for Buckelew.

Volunteers for 988 receive free and extensive 40-hour training and will gain a wide range of skills to support individuals and families in their greatest moments of need, Gallagher said.

Volunteers must be 18 or older and commit to at least one four-hour shift per week for a year.

The next training session begins Sept. 20 via remote learning. Additional training sessions will be offered monthly, based on interest and enrollment.

Apply online at 988volunteer; for more information, email hotline@buckelew.org or call 415- 720-1167.

Buckelew's nationally accredited suicide prevention hotline has operated continuously for over 50 years, previously under a 1-800 number. Over five decades, the 24/7 hotline staff and volunteers provided intervention to more than 300,000 people experiencing a mental health crisis. The free resource is available to anyone experiencing any level of need.