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An empathetic ear offered in troubled times By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER The Distress Centre of Oakville isn't content to field just 10,000 calls per year. More help for local people in crisis is needed, said the executive director of the nearly 40-yearold service. With that mandate, Kassandra Sawatzky and the volunteer board's chair, Judith Walton, set out to revamp the centre's website, thanks to funding from the Oakville Community Foundation (OCF) and the May Court Club of Oakville. The result at www.distresscentreoakville.com was recently launched and complements the centre's confidential 24-hour, seven-days-a-week telephone support service. (The Distress Centre doesn't have caller identification service on its telephones.) "We wanted user-friendly content, and more comprehensive information available, to help people better cope with mental-health issues, crisis, loneliness, and emotional stress," said Walton. The newly-launched website includes detailed information about suicide, which is the second leading cause of death in Canadian youths, between the ages of 14-19, and the leading cause of death for those between 25-34 years of age. Citing statistics compiled by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), the Distress Centre website states one in seven Canadians have seriously United Way of considered suiOakville (UWO). cide. With the webBecause of the site up and running, Sawatzky stigma attached to mental-health and Walton are issues, people do moving on to the not seek help soon next effort: to enough and withincrease help for out treatment, vulnerable people "The holidays can bring up a lot of there is a substantial in the community. mixed emotions. People often feel risk of suicide. Walton confirmed Other callers to more stressed due to loneliness, that t funding for a third the Distress Centre financial concerns and family phone p line has just seek a listening ear conflict." been b approved and when they are facing: will w be operating likely difficulties with relaby b the end of the year. Kassandra Sawatzky, executive director tionships; loss of a In addition to the Oakville Distress Centre loved one, including phone p support, next pets; financial or year y the Distress occupational conCentre will offer an cerns; mental or physical illnesses, addictions and online chat service giving people the option to anxiety. communicate by writing their thoughts and The new website has also proved to be a well- having a trained volunteer from the Distress spring for potential volunteers, said Sawatzky. Centre reply instantly. Two to three applications have been made through "It'll help us reach people in a different way," the new website per week. (Training sessions for said Sawatzky. new volunteers take place in September, January, And for people like `Joe', who calls the and April of each year.) Distress Centre almost every day due to loneliThe new site also makes it easier to donate. ness, a new pilot is about to be launched in early Both volunteers and donors are the backbone of f 2012, she said. the non-profit centre, which is also funded by the `Joe' has a learning disability, suffers from mental illness, is unemployed and has no friends or family to interact with in his daily life. Instead of waiting for people like `Joe' to call in, volunteers with the Distress Centre's new service will call him, to check that he is safe by engaging him in conversation. "It's sort of like a reassurance call, to let them know we're there to help," said Walton. It's certain that with all of these resources available, the Distress Centre will likely eclipse the 10,000-served mark next year -- and that bodes well for the whole community. ··· The holiday season can be a stressful time of year for many people, and the Oakville Distress Centre (ODC) anticipates a higher volume of calls over the next few weeks. "The holidays can bring up a lot of mixed emotions. People often feel more stressed due to loneliness, financial concerns, and family conflict," said Sawatzky. The Distress Centre has been providing support to people in this community for 37 years. In 2011, it responded to almost 10,000 calls. Distress Line volunteers provide a caring, compassionate and confidential telephone service to the residents of Oakville, Milton and the surrounding communities. It's a free service and because they don't subscribe to call display, callers remain completely anonymous. "Having the support of a friendly person who cares about your feelings and what you are going through can make all the difference," said Sawatzky. To reach a Distress Line volunteer, call 905849-4541. For more information about the Oakville Distress Centre, visit its website at www.distresscentreoakville.com. 5 · Wednesday, December 21, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Raffi ff Watch Boutique celebrates grand opening Sometimes the best presents don't come in a box. Your local Tim Hortons invites you to a Free Holiday Skate. It's our way of saying thank you and happy holidays. For a schedule of ice times and locations please visit a Tim Hortons restaurant in Oakville or www.timhortons.com. Eric Riehl/Metroland Media Group © Tim Hortons, 2010 Raffi Watch Boutique celebrated their grand opening in Oakville Place on Wednesday, December 14. CHCH was also present airing live segments for their morning show. Pictured from left to right are EBEL's Noel McDonagh, CHCH's Lori de Angelis, owner Peter Garabetian, designer Ramsin Khachi and staff member Yann Hamon.