By ROMAN HILDEBRANDT
A phone help line started in 1971 by a former BYU professor continues to aid the lonely, depressed or those who are in a crisis.
The Crisis Line of Utah was first begun by Dr. Richard Wooten and a handful of graduate students. In the beginning, this group only answered phone calls for a few hours a day. Today the line is always ready to provide a helping ear.
'Crisis Line of Utah provides crisis intervention and referral services twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week,' said a press release from the Crisis Line.
The release also said that volunteers specialize in helping people cope with thoughts of suicide, aiding the victims in abusive relationships and supporting individuals dealing with a rape.
Brad Blanchard oversees the training and work of volunteers at the Crisis Line and he says the most important skill a volunteer needs is the ability to care. 'We're here to listen. We're always here. If people don't have some one to talk to, they can call us,' Blanchard said.
The callers are not always in a life or death situation. Some people just call to talk. 'It's different because I expected a lot of suicide calls but it's not like that,' said Tiffany Quackenbush, a sophomore from Payson, Utah, majoring in secondary education.
Quackenbush volunteered her evenings last semester and said that the work is sometimes difficult but rewarding. 'It's frustrating sometimes but you can't loose your patience,' she said.
The United Way partially funds the line in partnership with the cities of Orem and Provo. Most workers are volunteers, according to Blanchard, because the majority of funds go towards everyday operating costs.
In order to staff all the shifts fully, Blanchard said that at least 12 volunteers are needed during every four month period. The majority of volunteers come from BYU and the four month periods coincide with school semesters.
'The neat thing about volunteering at the Crisis Line is that you really feel like you're helping people. give you instant trust and you just get to be there for people,' Blanchard said.
Anyone in volunteering at the Crisis Line of Utah should call Mollieanne Buhn of the United Way Volunteer Center at (801)374-8108.
Those who wish to talk to Brad Blanchard or a volunteer at the line can call directly there by dialing (801)266-4433.