Lessons I’ve learnt from four years of volunteering for a mental health charity

Lydia Esler has been volunteering for Shout for four years, starting back in 2021 when the world was still in the midst of a pandemic. In this article, she reflects on the things she’s learnt from her four years of being a Shout Volunteer and how she’s applied the skills, knowledge and lessons to her own life too.

Photo of Lydia

1) Anxiety affects people deeply (and differently)

It can make every day seem insurmountable for some people, that’s why it’s so important to provide them with a safe space to express their thoughts and feelings, listen to them and validate how they feel.

2) Don’t try to fix people’s problems

Sometimes being present is enough. You can’t be anyone’s saviour, but you can be their friend. I’ve learnt that listening without the expectation to solve things is so rewarding, there’s something deeply satisfying in just being present when somebody is in need.

At Shout, the training teaches us to be there in the moment, learn how to ask open-ended, non-judgemental questions rather than asking ‘why’, and help someone move from a place of crisis to one of calm. It may not fix everything that’s going on in their lives, but it can help them find answers to things

3) You may not know what your children are thinking

Even in loving, close families children can feel overlooked and isolated. The majority of people who text Shout are aged 25 and under, and nearly half of people who message haven’t reached out to anyone else for support before.

Find time to just be present with your kids. No judgement.

4) Loneliness is an epidemic

There are people in our society who have no one to lean on. Imagine that feeling. Nobody.

Alongside depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and feelings, it’s one of the main reasons people reach out to the service.

5) Talking does help

Having a safe space to share struggles can be mind altering. Being given the time to process, to write down how you’re feeling and to reflect can give people the starting tools they need to keep opening up and get the support they deserve.

6) Fear is always on the edge of growth

On my first shift I remember being terrified I may not remember my training, worried I would not be enough to support someone at a vulnerable time. Four years on, I have grown with every conversation. I've learned from the texters themselves and the Clinical Supervisors on the platform. Only because I pushed through the fear.

And this is one of the most valuable lessons for me.

When I need to grow in my personal development, I remember the fear of four years ago, as I geared up to take my first conversation. I was nervous, I didn’t know what to expect and I didn’t know how I’d feel afterwards. Reflecting on that today with an email I received from the Shout team telling me I’d hit this volunteering milestone, I’m reflecting that today I have now taken 365 conversations with people in crisis.

So my biggest lesson is this; face your fears. You never know where it can lead you.

Shout Volunteers are at the heart of what we do, we couldn’t support people in crisis without them. Find out more below about the opportunities available.