Redmond Resident Gives Back by Answering Calls on Crisis Line

Longtime resident and Microsoft employee, Saeed Kaley, has been volunteering on the 24-Hour Crisis Line once a week for over a year. In that time, he’s helped people experiencing all kinds of emotional distress: depression, anxiety, grief, shame, loneliness, and sometimes thoughts of suicide.

Kaley knows firsthand what it’s like to be in crisis. His son struggled with depression in high school and, despite receiving professional help, attempted suicide shortly after graduation. “He survived and is doing very well now,” says Kaley. “We all have recovered from that awful day. But the crisis, pain, agony, and untold distress during that time, I do not wish on anyone.”

This experience motivated Kaley to seek out volunteer opportunities where he could help others going through a difficult time.

“All the feelings and stress one is experiencing during a crisis are indeed real. There’s no denying it. But whatever someone is going through, it will pass. This is the message I try to share with callers on the Crisis Line,” explains Kaley.

Crisis Clinic’s 24-Hour Crisis Line is largely staffed by volunteers who have been professionally trained to take calls from people in crisis. They are supervised by mental health professionals, but do not provide counseling or advice. Instead, they listen to callers’ concerns, ask questions, and suggest referrals where people can get further assistance when necessary.

“It’s very rewarding to help someone lighten their load and offer a ray of hope so they can get through their day or night,” Kaley says.

Last year, 250 volunteers answered over 117,000 calls on the Crisis Line – but it isn’t enough. “The demand for our services continues to increase,” says Executive Director Kathleen Southwick, “and we’re not able to keep up with the demand.”

The agency needs to recruit approximately 150 new volunteers every year just to maintain services. Last year, the Seattle-based nonprofit only filled 100 of these volunteer positions.

“Many people choose short-term or one-time volunteer opportunities like sorting food at a food bank or planting trees, but volunteering for Crisis Clinic is a much bigger commitment,” explains Southwick.

Each of the Crisis Line volunteers goes through a six-week training program and pledges to work a four-hour shift every week for a year. Still, Kaley hopes this won’t stop people from volunteering for the organization:

“It certainly is a serious time commitment, but the rewards you receive are priceless,” says Kaley. “Callers thank me for being there for them and helping them through their difficult times, but they have no idea how much they are helping me grow and gain a better understanding of life. I am very grateful to be a volunteer at the Crisis Clinic.”

To learn more about volunteer opportunities available at Crisis Clinic, please visit their website at: http://www.crisisclinic.org.