IMAlive.org

Volunteers of the Month- October *Erin from WA, US & Nick from WI, US* - Learn about our exalting volunteers here!

“We rise by lifting others.” – Robert Ingersoll Erin emerged as one of our October Volunteers of the Month with dedication and class and we’re so proud of having them as part of the team since 2017. Erin came in laser-focused with the pure intent of standing beside others while being wonderfully compassionate and eager to learn in the hopes of helping others to weather through their storms. They…

Volunteers of the Month- September *Daniel & Ann Marie* - Learn about our honorary volunteers!

“Beauty is not who you are on the outside…It is the wisdom and time you gave away to save another struggling soul like you.”- Shannon L. Alder Impressing our team from the beginning by nearly completing their 200-hour commitment within six months of becoming certified, Daniel has written their name in the stars. With a feat like that, it seems only natural that they’d be named Volunteer of the…

Looking Inside the Life of IMAlive's Volunteers Kelsey!

Kelsey from Czech Republic Hi, my name is Kelsey. I am from California and currently living in Prague, Czech Republic. I am an artist and love painting, sculpture, and making paper art (usually of my favorite animal which is a pigeon!) As a survivor of rape, I have experienced PTSD, anxiety, and depression and know how isolating it can be when you are going through a difficult time and don’t…

Volunteers of the Month- August *Francois from Canada & Payden from TX, US*. Read about their acclimations with IMAlive here!

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Ghandi There are not enough good things IMAlive has to say about one of our volunteers, Francois, who we are so proud to say is Volunteer of the Month. It was clear to see that Francois, who became certified less than a year ago, had a knack for crisis response. With less than 200 hours under their belt, they…

Learn why IMALIVE.org is here today. Why we care, and why it's important to talk about suicide. #WSPD #NSPM #tw

Major depression is everywhere. It is real. It happens every day to hardworking, motivated, wonderful people. Kristin Brooks Rossell was one such person. On April 7th, 1998, two police officers knocked on the door of Reese’s house in Vallejo, CA, and told him that his wife Kristin had ended her life. The night before Kristin voluntarily checked herself into a mental health facility hoping to get…

"This is a sign to look closely at your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors to find out what’s wrong."

We all experience challenging times when we feel overwhelmed, anxious, or alone. In these moments, it’s often hard to think of things that may help you feel a bit better. Take some time to think about your coping skills, and the tools you have to help you in difficult times. You can even write a list of things that can help. Next time you’re having a challenging day, you can just look at your…

"When you have a bad day or start to feel your mental health slipping, you can pull out your list and remember all your tools."-

Over the last two years, we’ve lived through a global pandemic that’s touched everyone. Many of us have felt the weight of loneliness, isolation, or stress. When times are difficult, mental health often slips to the bottom of the to-do list. Everyone goes through these challenging periods, and it’s important to have the tools you need to help you through difficult times. Here are some tips for…

Volunteers of the Month- July *Jessica & Payden*. Read about their successes with IMAlive here!

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”~Elizabeth Andrew Almost a full year of volunteering, Jessica has stolen the hearts of many colleagues and people in crisis alike and with that, her calm and gentle nature earned her the award of being Volunteer of the Month for July. Every shift she joins, Jessica has proven herself to be valuable to the staff as someone…

A Helpful Craft from IMAlive- Read for step by step instructions on fashioning a weighted blanket!

The other day I was doing some research online and stumbled across this link for weighted blankets. While I always knew I loved heavy blankets, I neither realized why I liked them nor really understand how they were made. I was really intrigued and looked further into it and, as I researched further, I found that people typically use weighted blankets for anxiety, or for anyone that needs…

Volunteers of the Month – *June* Holly H. from IA, US and Jane H. from Canada; Read their unique stories that led them to IMAlive!

Dedicating oneself to volunteering on a consistent basis is something extraordinary; the ability to choose to help others again and again…beyond what is expected, beyond what is anticipated is a call that not everyone answers. However, those who do answer harbor something exceptional that takes shape when they perform an act of volunteerism. Similar to seeing a comet streak across a night sky,…

Volunteers of the Month – *May* Mara C. from Italy and Olivia M. from TX, US; Read about the difference they've made within IMAlive! #RandomActs

“Volunteering is at the very core of being human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.” – Heather French Henry As social beings, supporting one another through “thick and thin” is a crucial aspect of everyone not simply achieving some set goal of what success looks like to them, but of personally surviving in hard times, thriving in good ones, and sustaining during…

Volunteers of the Month – *April* Amanda P. from TX, US and Sharon L. from WA, US ; Read their incredible story with IMAlive!

As spring has sprung and the days grow brighter, the sunlight shines longer, and summer approaches here in the US, we celebrate two volunteers whose time serving people in crisis at IMAlive began in August of 2021. They, too, have been helping to increase that light of hope with each and every passing day. Amanda joined us desiring an “opportunity to support those considering suicide” by…

How to Be Hopeful-"You can have control over whether or not you feel hopeful, and while it will take time to build new habits, it is still possible."

In my experience volunteering for IMAlive, one common thread that connects people who reach out for help is an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness. It’s this hopeless feeling that there is nothing that you or anyone else can do to change things and that often pushes people to think about killing themselves. But what actually is hope and is there anything we can do to become more or less hopeful?…

Volunteers of the Month – *March* Bridget W. from GA, US and Kyra F. from NY, US ; Read their stunning story with IMALIVE.

“Volunteering is an act of heroism on a grand scale. And it matters profoundly. It does more than help people beat the odds; it changes the odds.” – William J. Clinton This month we honor two hero volunteers here at IMAlive – two outstanding people whose dedication to service matters profoundly, and whose willingness to share their time and empathy with those struggling to overcome crisis help…

Survey Says: Volunteer Recognition Month, Part 5: Compilation of quotes by our very appreciated volunteers.

Survey Says: Volunteer Recognition Month, Part 4: Compilation of quotes by our very appreciated volunteers.

Inside the Life of a Volunteer- Learn a bit about Francois from Toronto!

Francois from Toronto, Canada My name is Francois and I am from Toronto, Canada. Though, I am originally from Johannesburg, South Africa. After losing a close fiend to suicide, and a few other friends who attempted to die by suicide, I realized the need for intervention, for compassion and the need for a compassionate ear in times of need, which is offered by IMAlive. Something most people…