HeartLine

HELP volunteer Eric Smith

Today we present a brief interview with one of our outstanding HELP volunteers, Eric Smith.  Eric has been volunteering with HeartLine for many years and even takes days of vacation from work to help us with our presentations.  We thank Eric for his support and wanted to share a little about him.  Here goes:

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Eighth of nine children, OSU graduate (BS-EET), single, Broadcast Engineer by trade/volunteer by profession (wasn’t planned that way).

What brought you to HeartLine?

…a news report. I had just joined a new company, and about a year later a strong urge came over me to volunteer, but nothing ever seemed to fit. I searched and researched for quite a while, about six to eight months or so, and then one evening, I came home and switched on the news and I saw a news report about CONTACT needing telephone listeners. And so, I called. So what brought me to HeartLine was a desire to help others who were struggling, feeling alone, and hurting.

Why did you decide to become a HELP volunteer?

Why? Because children, teens, young adults, are dying too soon for reasons that can be understood, that is, if they knew who they could talk to and given the opportunity to learn how to be open. Challenging, but to the depth of degree, I realized there soon after. And being a witness to their enlightenment about suicide–that’s why I remain.

During my listener’s training, Ronny Greenberg came and introduced us to Contact’s teen suicide awareness and prevention program, at that time called “CHOICES”. It was during his presentation that I realized as well as being a telephone listener, I wanted to be a part of something that was impacting the youth. Even though I had never taken a speech class or given any sort of presentation while in college, I knew this is where I belonged. For me, speaking in front of a group of people was something I actively avoided. Speaking it front of a group was scary and felt very daunting, especially to an audience of “highly informed” teenagers, but after I started doing it, I realized it wasn’t that bad and really started enjoying it.

What is your favorite thing about being a HELP presenter?

My favorite thing about being a HELP Presenter is witnessing the “Ah-ha” moment in the eyes of students. Suicide can be difficult to discuss without the discussion turning into a moral, immoral, or melancholic debate. However, listening to the students sharing their insights and asking questions about an often misunderstood and confusing decision that normally doesn’t come about in everyday discussions is very humbling. I mean, how often will anyone discuss the reasons why of suicide? Students want to know, and they do want to understand why their friends or loved ones died by their own hands. Mostly, when you see the hope returning to the face of a student that completely understands what you are presenting…I don’t know how to describe it.

What would you say to someone that is thinking about volunteering?

“Just do it!” That’s what I would say. Volunteering is difficult work, but it isn’t difficult because the work is hard. It’s difficult because volunteering challenges you to change, to view life as you never expected. Volunteering challenges you to think and venture outside of your comfort zone, and if you allow it, outside of your understanding. I also think for some, volunteering can be somewhat intimidating, but the rewards are immeasurable and countless, even when the discussion is the cause and effect of suicide. Volunteering, in my mind is a misconception, in that, as a volunteer, I perceive I have something to give, when in reality I have nothing to give. Everyone has their answers to their life issues. They’re just buried beneath a lot of stuff, like hurt, anger, resentment, fear, leading to a state of confusion and despair, and perhaps hopelessness, but their answers are there. Sometimes we need a little outside perspective from someone else to help clear some of the debris. If you’re thinking about volunteering, the urge has always been inside you. The thought process, you thinking about it, is only your realization that it’s there and it’s coming to life. Just do it and let it happen. You won’t regret it.

For more information about becoming a HELP volunteer, visit our Suicide Prevention and Outreach Programs page or our Volunteer Opportunities page.