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Jason grew up in central Illinois and the Chicago suburbs with a dream of becoming an actor, which he pursued in New York City for several years. There, he met his wife, and the two now have a daughter in college. For the last two and a half decades, he has worked in higher education in Minneapolis, rural Iowa and now Portland, where he serves as the Registrar at Reed College. <\/p>\n
When Jason moved to Portland in 2021, the pandemic was still reshaping daily life in ways that were hard to ignore. He wanted to help \u2014 specifically, to support people struggling with the mental health and substance use fallout of those years. A Google search turned up Lines for Life. <\/p>\n
That was January 2023. Since then, he has answered 357 calls. <\/p>\n
I\u2019ve often been told I\u2019m good in a crisis and have a natural talent for de-escalation, so I wanted to volunteer somewhere that would let me put those skills to use and develop them further. <\/p>\n
For whatever reason, I think I\u2019m a naturally judgy person, and I wanted a volunteer opportunity that would challenge those inclinations and any of my implicit biases. I\u2019ve found it\u2019s impossible to effectively support someone in crisis and simultaneously judge their state, choices, and perspectives. Volunteering at Lines for Life has definitely helped me set aside my judgments and meet people where they are. <\/p>\n
Something I love about volunteering here is, there really isn\u2019t a \u201ctypical shift.\u201d On one call I\u2019m talking about old movies with a frequent caller, the next I\u2019m safety planning with a high-acuity caller, the next I\u2019m searching databases for substance use programs, and the next I\u2019m listening to a caller sing a song or recite a poem they wrote. The common thread is actively listening and supporting callers\u2019 needs in the moment. <\/p>\n
Remembering that the caller is the expert in their own life and refraining from giving advice. Also, I like to talk, so keeping lower-acuity calls to a time limit can be hard. But it\u2019s necessary to make sure we\u2019re getting to the higher-acuity callers. <\/p>\n
There\u2019s the obvious feeling of accomplishment \u2014 knowing you did a good job and helped someone. But I try not to dwell there too long, because there\u2019s always the next call. Feeling like you\u2019ve \u201cgot this down\u201d can be a treacherous state for a volunteer because it can put you on autopilot rather than keeping you present and listening. <\/p>\n
That most people think they\u2019re alone \u2014 and they aren\u2019t. There is a lot of shame and stigma around mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation, and that isolation is real. Validating a caller\u2019s feelings or normalizing their thoughts can ground them and connect them back to life and humanity. Even simple statements like \u201cAnyone in your situation would feel the same\u201d can make a profound difference. With that understanding, I also try to self-validate and normalize my own thoughts and feelings. <\/p>\n
Our callers are everyone. I\u2019ve spoken to overwhelmed parents and straight-A high school students, retired high-ranking military and business professionals, and just ordinary folks struggling through a tough patch. Literally anyone can encounter serious life challenges and find themselves in crisis. <\/p>\n
What are you waiting for? <\/p>\n
I find it deeply meaningful and life-affirming that anyone with access to a phone, at any time, from anywhere, can reach out and talk to a compassionate and trained human being. While we often fall short as individuals, as a culture or as a country, the fact such a network of people even exists is so hopeful and beautiful. <\/p>\n
The next caller. And the community of Lines for Life volunteers, supervisors, and trainers. <\/p>\n