Our last story of the week comes from Rachael Kenny, who volunteers as a Community Builder with Turn2me.  Rachael tells us how volunteering at home, has contributed to a sense of making a difference, giving back, and helping others to feel not alone.  

“It’s no secret that since the pandemic began last year, the nation’s mental health has been heavily
impacted. For over a year we’ve endured illness, loss, fear and isolation along with unemployment, social
distancing, clean hands, face masks and restrictions. I felt like I needed to do something to help. I didn’t
know if this would be feasible during lockdown, when everything seemed to be remote but then through
volunteer Ireland I found Turn2me.

Turn2me is an online professional mental health support platform founded in 2009 with a vision to create a space for people to get professional support online. The platform offers online counselling, online support groups and online peer support to both adults and young people. Earlier this year I began volunteering with Turn2me as a Community Builder for the adult online peer support programme. My role involves giving online support to those who are struggling. This is done on a safe platform that the organisation has set up. The idea of a Community Builder is to act as a friend and a confidant. One evening a week I login into the platform and offer a listening ear and sometimes advice to anyone who
comes on for a chat. This role has opened my eyes to the daily struggles that people are facing, not just as a result of the pandemic, but in their everyday life. I think Turn2me is such an important platform because it’s both free and online. Often people struggle to seek support with their mental health because they’re afraid to go out and get it. Turn2me takes away one of the scariest parts of getting help and lets people do it from the comfort of their homes. It also allows me to volunteer from home which has been great during lockdown.

I’m delighted to be involved with this organisation. Even if I help just one person a week to feel better
and to feel like they’re not alone I know I’ve made a difference.   At times like these it’s important to come together and support each other and volunteering is a great way to do it!