Befrienders are carefully selected

volunteer Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serve ...

s, from a variety of organisations and

mental health Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing cognition, perception, and behavior. It likewise determines how an individual handles stress, interpersonal relationships, and decision-making. Mental health ...

charities, who are trained to provide support and companionship to lonely, or emotionally distressed, people.Hewitt, R.D'O. (2007) ''Moving on: a guide to good health and recovery for people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia''
p.99.
Karnac Books. . Retrieved October 2011. Befrienders will usually visit for an hour or so per week. The meeting is usually arranged to suit the person's needs, either at home, or at a neutral venue. Some befriending schemes include

social event A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature ...

s, creative classes, or self-help groups.

Selection

Training can take upwards of 10 weeks before a befriender is allocated a case. During the befriending process, continuous support is provided, through regular group meetings and individual meetings with a coordinator.Susan Balloch, S., Hill, M.J. (2007) ''Care, community and citizenship: research and practice in a changing policy context'
p.203.
The Policy Press. . Retrieved October 2011. Befrienders assignments are chosen on the basis of

ethnicity An ethnic group or an ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Those attributes can include common sets of traditions, ancestry, language, history, ...

gender Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to femininity and masculinity and differentiating between them. Depending on the context, this may include sex-based social structures (i.e. gender roles) and gender identity. Most cultures u ...

(usually the same sex as the person requiring help), age and needs of the person requiring help.

Effectiveness

Unlike professional careers, such as

social worker Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social work ...

s, befrienders can become emotionally involved with their case, which often results in a more positive outcome as they are able to engage at a much deeper level.Newton, J. (1997) ''Preventing Mental Illness in Practice'
p.11.
Routledge. . Retrieved October 2011.

References

Mental health professionals Community and social services occupations Volunteering {{job-stub

Selection

Effectiveness

See also

References