Group News

Buddy System - Crisis Chat System

We are calling on all Mentors that would like to Volunteer for a "Crisis Chat System" to sign up.

What is it:

Crisis Chat System - Mentors can make themselves available to help Buddies in a Crisis Situation. If you feel like you are in danger and are in need of PROFESSIONAL help LOG NOW and contact one of the following numbers:

 

Hopeline 800.784.2433

Suicide Hotline 800.273.8255

Teen Hotline 800.999.9999

RAIN Hotline 800.656.4673 (Rape, Abuse & Incest Network)

 

UK: Samaritans 08457 90 90 90

ROI: Samaritans 1850 60 90 90

AU: Suicide Hotline 1.800.198.313

 

For all other Countries: http://www.realmentalhealth.com/site/crisis_hotlines.asp

 

All participants in the Buddy System Crisis Chat System Mentors are volunteers. Please be advised that mentor volunteers are not professionally trained counselors and should not be viewed as such. Mentors may serve as a “supplement” to professional services but is not meant or designed to replace or suppliant professional counseling or therapy by licensed professionals. Mentors are simply caring individuals wishing to give back and possess the desire and willingness to support others in need. Although not mandated, in an effort to assure that mentors provide accurate and reliable information for crisis intervention purposes, all prospective mentors are encouraged to participate in a 60-minute on-line training course. However, in some instances, the information provided by mentors may represent their own opinion or judgment and not that of the founders of the Buddy System or DailyStrength.

 

The information is provided with the understanding that neither the Mentors, nor the founders of the Buddy System are engaged in rendering legal, medical, counseling or other professional services or advice, and neither shall be liable or responsible to any person or entity for any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be have been caused, directly or indirectly by or from the information or ideas contained, suggested, or referenced in Buddy System-Crisis Chat System. Your participation in the Online Crisis Chat System, therefore is solely at your own risk and any admission to illegal activities or threats of suicide will be reported to the appropriate authorities and will be grounds for dismissal from the community. Furthermore, as a condition for participating in the online Crisis Chat System, you agree that you have reviewed and will comply with all of the community Terms of Service and understand that violations may also be reported to DailyStrength, Inc.

How to use it:

Come to the Buddy System Recent Discussions, Click on Topic "Crisis Chat System" and click on the icon of the Mentor, if they are online you will see an bubble icon to the right hand side that says "Click to Chat"

 

Mentors: Try to use the following to outline to help the "Buddy"

 

1. Define the problem/issue of the "Buddy"
2. What steps can you take to fix the problem, and try to rectify its harm
3. How can you make the changes required to avoid the problem recurring
4. If the "Buddy" is not responding to positive conversation and is still despondent immediately refer them to the following crisis professionals:

 

Hopeline 800.784.2433

Suicide Hotline 800.273.8255

Teen Hotline 800.999.9999

RAIN Hotline 800.656.4673 (Rape, Abuse & Incest Network)

 

 

Waiver and Release:

As a condition for your participation in the Buddy System Crisis Chat System, you hereby fully mutually waive and release DailyStrength,Inc., and its officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers, and others acting on its behalf, from any and all legal and equitable claims, liability, and responsibility based upon any injury, loss, harm, annoyance or damage resulting from your participation in chat and forums.

 

~PLEASE DO NOT POST IN TOPIC CRISIS CHAT SYSTEM~ ALL Mentors will need to go through Karen and Aimee before posting in this thread. Since this is a crisis situation we appreciate your understanding.

 

 

 

Create An Effective Crisis Plan

 

Also we are recommending if you are a Mentor that you put into place a Crisis Plan for your Buddy. Here is a quick overview of how it could work. The Mentor would be the first point of contact, the Mentor and the Buddy together would choose 5 people that they both feel would be a good positive backup if the Mentor is not available and the Buddy goes into Crisis Mode. If the Buddy has exhausted all the resources on the list then the Buddy would come to the Buddy System-Crisis Chat System and look for a mentor here.

 

 

Suggested Email Template for Crisis Plan:

 

I am in the process of putting together a Crisis Plan for BUDDY NAME HERE, in case I am not around.

Here is the process:

Mentor: Your Name (Your Screen Name) (Hours available)

Backup Plan:
1.) Backup Person 1 (Hours available)
2.) Backup Person 2 (Hours available)
3.) Backup Person 3 (Hours available)
4.) Backup Person 4 (Hours available)
5.) Backup Person 5 (Hours available)

If any of the above people can not be reached your next plan of action would be to go to the Buddy System home page and find the topic that says "Crisis Chat System" and find a Mentor that is online that you feel comfortable with click on their icon, when you get to their profile home page, click on the bubble icon that says "click to chat" in the upper right hand corner.

 

Hopeline 800.784.2433

Suicide Hotline 800.273.8255

Teen Hotline 800.999.9999

RAIN Hotline 800.656.4673 (Rape, Abuse & Incest Network)

 

UK: Samaritans 08457 90 90 90

ROI: Samaritans 1850 60 90 90

AU: Suicide Hotline 1.800.198.313

 

For all other Countries: http://www.realmentalhealth.com/site/crisis_hotlines.asp

 

 

For more helpful links please reference the news article "Helpful Links For Mentors & Buddies"

 

http://dailystrength.org/groups/buddy-system/news/view/1089467

 

 

Thank you all for taking the time to make a difference in this world and to care about someone else. It does matter!

 

Aimee & Karen

 

Hey everyone!

Im so glad this is starting to become a success! The group is actually featured on the side of the homepage when you login :D

Okay so i have decided you dont have to message me when you find a buddy, i dont want it to seem like you need approval to find your own friend, you know? If you want a buddy, post in the section you most need help in, and if you want to help someone look for a good match and contact them! :]

However, if you think your buddy is in danger, then please, Contact Myself or StrugglingToGetBy.
We will set up a crisis plan/intervention the best we know how considering we're online community.

Also, Please DO NOT POST in the Discussions, post only in your designated topic areas. We want to keep the discussion area as clean as possible so as many subjects can be seen as possible, if you have any questions message me and i'll answer them and if you want another subject added then tell me and i will be more than happy to add it :]

So please respond here to tell me what you think, and i'd also appreciate it if you could tell me about any successful buddy partners :]

Thanks,

Karen

[metalheadlxlxl]

In trying to organize the Buddy System and set up a system to get everyone paired up...it has come to our attention that we feel that the person that knows best who is a better match for your personalities for a successful Mentor/Buddy match is you!

We feel that it is imperative that the bond/chemistry be perfect for the foundation to be built upon for that special one on one relationship with someone that knows what they are going through. Someone they can turn to when they feel at their lowest point, that can help them turn it around.

What we would like to ask you all to do....and we thank you for you understanding and patience with this, as it is new to us too, is to:

-Click in the Recent Discussion Area (under the topic you feel you need support or feel you could give support) and follow the directions given, you will answer a few questions and should soon be contacted by a buddy!

 

-Mentors: contact us and tell us who you want to mentor, so we can keep track.
And then hit submit. If you are a person that feels like you connect with this person looking for a mentor and feels like you would be a good mentor please respond to their post. If you are the Buddy looking for the Mentor please take the time to review their profile and look at some of their postings to see if this might be a good fit for you.

If you have put a post out there and have not made a match please contact either Karen (metalheadlxlxl) or Aimee (StrugglingToGetBy) and we will help you get paired up.

 

Also another great way of finding a Mentor or a Buddy is to search the Member List, find someone who's profile personality matches yours, that you feel would be a good match for you and send them a message to see how well you can communicate together to build a trusting relationship.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping us getting this system worked out.

Karen & Aimee

 

*The Buddy System is not a replacement for one on one therapy with a professional licensed therapist, but a means of finding support of a friend that has been through a similar situation that can share real life experiences and provide hope, understanding, and compassion.