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Mental Health Services l Outpatient Clinical Services l Community Support Services l Rehabilitation Services l HIV/AIDS Services |
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Domestic Violence Services (The Umbrella) l Substance Abuse Prevention Services (VSAAC) l Birmingham Foundation |
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People who suffer from mental illness also suffer from the loneliness and isolation that often accompany the disease. You can help. Become a Compeer volunteer in your community and share just 4 hours of your time each month with someone who suffers from mental illness.
What Is
Compeer? "Compeer" means a
companion who is also a peer or equal. Loneliness,
This award-winning, community-based program matches volunteers in friendship relationships. It is based on the concept that a volunteer's friendship and support can offset the loneliness and isolation that accompany mental illness. Volunteers have the power to improve lives by offering opportunity for healthy socialization, trusting friendships, and a link to the community. In 2001, 4,892 Compeer volunteers world wide offered their gift of friendship to 5,935 individuals recovering from a mental illness.
What is
Involved? Compeer volunteers
receive three hours of training from
How Can I
Become a Compeer Volunteer?
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failure,
fear and loss of self-esteem are universal experiences of those who suffer
from mental illnesses. A caring friend can help to restore some joy and hope
to a life that is often empty of both. Through the gift of your friendship,
you will gain a sense of satisfaction and personal growth and have the
opportunity to help another. 
into
your current lifestyle. Compeer Volunteers are asked to make a commitment of
4 hours per month for at least one year spending time with their Compeer
match in a mutually agreeable activity. You can choose to spend time
with someone your own age, or older, or younger than yourself. As a
volunteer, you will meet with your friend on a regular basis, at mutually
convenient times, to share activities you enjoy such as movies, sports,
shopping or coffee and a chat. Many volunteers extend their commitments past one year
and spend more time than one hour weekly with their Compeer friends.
Compeer staff before their match begins and continue to meet with, and
receive support from, the mental health professionals who referred their new
friends to the program throughout their involvement in the Compeer
relationship. Volunteers are asked to send in brief monthly updates, and
ongoing education and support for volunteers is provided by monthly
information groups which meet to discuss problems and share ideas. 
volunteers
who come from all walks of life, all races, all religions, and from both
urban neighborhoods and rural communities. Training, ongoing education and
support is provided by the Compeer staff. If you would like to
become a Compeer volunteer and use the power of your friendship to help
people with mental illnesses live happier, more productive lives, contact
Birmingham Group Health Services at (203) 736-2601 to learn more
about the Compeer program today!