At the Yukon Distress and Support Line, trained volunteers answer the phones as people from across the territory call in to talk about their feelings of grief, loneliness and loss.

These are the most common topics – crisis calls are more rare.

Given the vastness of the territory and the sparse services offered in some areas, often people just need someone to talk to.

“There’s a lot of transition in the community and people come here, often without their social network, often without their mental health services that they may have been accessing elsewhere, and it can be really difficult,” Jordan Aslett, the line’s co-ordinator, said in an interview.

A lack of after-hours supports in the community is also problematic.

“Whitehorse is a fairly well-resourced community during the day,” Aslett said. “But at 5 o’clock, the social service sidewalks sort of get rolled up.”

The distress line, operated by Many Rivers Counselling and Support Services, is an attempt to fill that gap.

The line is open from 7 p.m. to midnight every night. It is toll-free, confidential and anonymous. The number is 1-844-533-3030.

As the summer ends, some of its volunteers are leaving the territory to go back to school, so the line is recruiting.

Aslett looks for people who non-judgmental, open, reliable and not too directive.

“It’s a support line, so we really try to get people to focus on the listening aspect, not the fixing aspect,” he said.

Volunteers receive training in suicide intervention, active listening and self-care. They’re also familiarized with a services manual to refer people to supports in the community.

Volunteers are required to work two shifts per month, with a six-month commitment.

The line first opened in November 2014, operated by the Second Opinion Society, with funding from the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund, Northwestel Inc. and the territorial Department of Health and Social Services.

Many Rivers began running the line last March.

Aslett wants would-be callers to know that even if all they need is a friendly, listening ear, they’re encouraged to phone in.

And for people who are in crisis, the volunteers are trained and ready to help, he said.

“The more people we train and get out into the community, the more people have some skills around suicide prevention, or just active listening and being a good contact,” Aslett said.

“The more we can build the capacity of the whole community by training as many people as possible, the better. Because it just means a more supportive community.”

People interested in volunteering can contact Aslett at 667-2970 x249 or ydsl@manyrivers.yk.ca.