You can make the world

a better place

Our 1 year peer support program matches volunteer supporters with individuals who are struggling with their mental health. Peer Supporters provide encouragement through weekly calls for 1 year.

  • Meet weekly with someone for a year to support their mental health.

  • Be there for them through the struggles they face.

  • Deeply care for and encourage them.

Become a
BTS Peer Supporter to:

What is your role as a VOLUNTEER?

Share your story authentically.

Your struggles and victories can inspire your mentee.

Before you start, we’ll train you, and we’ll offer monthly continuing education as well.

Go through and use your training.

Carry burdens with your mentee.

Listen and care about their ups and downs.

Refrain from judgment, believe in them, and keep their story confidential.

Be a safe person for them.

We don’t have to have answers. Most people want to be loved and know they’re not alone.

You don’t have it figured out.

Training

We’ll train you on four evidence-based practices that will ensure you can be impactful in your role:

Learning how to listen to deeply understand someone and expand their understanding of themselves.

Latent semantic synchrony

Peer modeling

Learning when to share your story and how to do it in a way that impacts and encourages others.

Unconditional positive regard

Learning how to accept and believe in someone regardless of their choices or struggles.

Learning how to identify unhelpful thoughts and change someone’s perspective to empower them.

Reframing

The mental health professional on our Board of Directors, Dr. Michelle Saari, also offers monthly trainings to deepen your support skills and give you a chance to ask questions and continually grow.

Be a part of changing lives…

  • "I've started to be more open and come out of my shell and meet new people."

  • "I went to therapy and got on medication for my anxiety."

  • "I am able to talk to others about what I'm struggling with more than before."

  • "I am more positive in my life."

  • "It was a rough year, so having someone on my side was a nice feeling to have because I felt less alone."

  • "I had someone to talk to constantly and someone I made a friend out of."

  • "I have been able to help others and been able to create a lifelong friendship with my mentor."

  • "I've been able to get better with my social anxiety."

  • "Since joining it's been harder to fall into depressive swings."

  • "My mentor has been there for me, often when I didn't have anyone to talk to."

  • "My mentor helped show me that I do in fact matter."

  • "I've been able to find and keep good people in my life."

Supporting you
throughout the year

As a peer supporter, our staff supports you through bi-monthly trainings and regular check ins to support you in any issues or questions you face and ensure your match is engaging and growing.

How to apply?

Apply

1.

Click the button above to apply for the program as a Peer Supporter.

Get trained

2.

After completing your application, we’ll invite you to complete an online training.

3.

Get matched

We’ll match you, and you’ll get started making an impact in the program!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Anyone over the age of 18!

  • We’ll pair you with someone who has similar interests and experiences to you, so you’ll have topics to discuss off the bat. But also, your role is to ask them how they are and let them share about their life and their heart.

    We’ll teach you how to listen deeply, follow clues and get them talking about what matters most to them.

  • Relationships take time to develop, and we encourage you to persevere through the difficult season as a mentor.

    Our Match Manager also follow up with your Peer to help them through any difficulties. You can ask for any help or suggestions.

    And we also remind you that showing up for someone is often more meaningful than we give credit. No matter how the match goes, we’ll have your back.