Hey! Awesome to have you here
Employee Volunteering at TalkLife Workplace
Mental health volunteer opportunities for employees
Hey! We love that you're here. It means you want to do some good in this sometimes scary world.
Being a mental health volunteer can take many forms! If you’re too busy to volunteer consistently, unable to be there physically, or would just prefer to do something online, there are still many ways you can give back to the community.
We believe in the power of online volunteering for employees. It’s a way to be flexible and help others without making any big commitments. You can support the community from home, on campus, or even from your morning bus… Anywhere you feel comfortable doing so!
No designated Shifts
Volunteer where and when it works for you.
Take a break whenever you need to.
Your mental health matters!
Be part of a global community.
Meet people and make friends from all walks of life!
Flexible training and development.
Learn at your own pace and in your own style.
"I love it! My experience on TalkLife as a volunteer is wonderful."
TalkLife Buddy
Becoming a volunteer buddy at TalkLife Workplace
TalkLife buddies are users who have trained with us to be a peer supporter on the platform. Being a buddy means becoming a listening ear on our communities. That can take many forms! Here are some of the tasks you’d be performing:
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Welcoming new people and ensuring we are a warm, supportive environment for those taking their first steps to talking and sharing
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Commenting on posts and using your supportive skills to convey empathy and help people feel heard
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Setting up your own groups and helping people feel connected with each other
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Offering one-to-one buddy support to someone who is struggling
"There is not a single judging soul on the volunteer and administration team, there's no reason not to try! It's a lovely experience, and it's a healthy way of improving as human beings!"
TalkLife Buddy
Student volunteer training
As a TalkLife volunteer, you’ll get an introductory call and receive full training before starting your duties. You will also get access to a volunteer Slack group and receive continuous support from our internal team and other volunteers if you have any questions or concerns. You will also get monthly clinical supervision where you can meet other buddies from around the globe, share your experiences, and ask any questions.
Please note volunteering and mental health services are very different responsibilities and we do not expect you to act as a counselor or deal with crisis situations. If you come across a crisis situation, we would only expect you to flag it to our professional team who will escalate it if needed.
"I've enjoyed my experience as a Buddy because I'm a person who wants to help and put a smile on someone else's face if possible."
TalkLife Buddy
General Information
We ask that all volunteers spend 5-6 hours on the platform per week doing their duties.
All volunteers are encouraged to take time off for their mental health if they need it.
A video call with one member of the admin team is needed in order to progress to the training.
Training takes place on Slack and is delivered via 5 modules with videos, information, and a quiz.
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What is peer support?It is informal support shared between peers rather than professionals. Peer support relies on students using their own personal experiences to help each other. It provides a sense of connection that’s essential for our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
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I need urgent support, what should I do?If you believe your life or the life of someone you know is in danger and are in need of urgent help, please see Additional Resources where there is more information and links to global crisis support centers around the world.
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How does peer support help?Peer support can be an effective mechanism to support people with anxiety, depression, addiction and many other mental health issues. Participating in peer to peer support has been linked to: an increased ability to cope, a greater sense of wellbeing & resilience, higher levels of self-esteem and confidence.
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How can I get started?If your workplace has signed up to TalkLife Workplace, you can either download the app from the app stores, or use our web version. You can then sign up using your work email address to gain free access or use a voucher code if your employer has provided you with one. You will have to verify your identity via a verification email before you can start interacting with the community.
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What can I talk about?Our platform is very raw and real - this is what we love about it. You are welcome to talk about whatever is going on in your life as we want to be here to support you, however we encourage you to do this in a way that is safe for others on our platform. You can read our full community guidelines here.
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Who pays for TalkLife Workplace?Your employer has offered you access to TalkLife Workplace as part of their employee benefits. You can gain free access to the platform by signing up with your work email address - we have unlocked your workplace email domain so this means anyone at your company will be able to access the platform free of charge. Your employer won’t know that you are using the platform and you can remain anonymous.
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Why do I have to use my employee email address?The reason we ask you to use your employee email address is for one purpose only: authentication and verification of your employee status with your company. Your employer has offered you access to TalkLife Workplace as part of their employee benefits and using this email address helps us to provide you with free access. It also means we can verify all users and TalkLife Workplace will remain a safe space for the community it is intended for. Please be reassured that TalkLife Workplace is a confidential third party support service where your identity is protected. TalkLife Workplace will not share personal identifying details or interactions of those using the platform, either with your employer or any other third parties. Your employer may have also unlocked access to TalkLife Workplace via a voucher code.
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Is my privacy protected?Yes. Will will not share that you are using TalkLife Workplace with your employer. Please find the TalkLife Workplace Privacy Policy here.
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Do you collect any data and, if so, how do you use it?Data is collected and used for the purpose of gathering insights on how the platform is being used. Your TalkLife Workplace data is de-identified, and never shared with third parties or advertisers. We encourage you to learn more about how we use your data through our privacy policy which can be found here.
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What data is shared with my workplace?We do not share any identifiable information with your workplace.
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How ‘anonymous’ and ‘confidential’ is TalkLife Workplace?The only circumstances under which anonymity may be broken is in a threat of terror, underage abuse, or in cases of active risk of suicide.
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How is TalkLife Workplace monitored and by whom?TalkLife Workplace is monitored by our professional trust and safety team. This team consists of moderation professionals and clinical staff. The platform is moderated in real time 24/7.
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What language should I write in?TalkLife Workplace is primarily an English speaking network, however, our TalkLife Workplace peer supporters can support you across 26 languages including Swedish, Dutch, Arabic, German, Russian, Slovak, Czech, Polish, Hindi, Korean, Odia, Bengali, Urdu, Spanish, Tswana, Afrikaans, Cantonese, Mandarin, French, Greek & Portuguese.
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Who else is in the community?TalkLife Workplace is a global community of working professionals that is truly diverse. In order to gain access to TalkLife Workplace, users have to have an email that is registered with a workplace that has partnered with us or have a valid voucher code.
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I'm having issues with my account and I need support.Please email us on support@talklife.co.
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What makes TalkLife Workplace safe to use?TalkLife Workplace has a number of mechanisms that make it safe to use, including tools for anonymously reporting bullying and inappropriate or concerning posts. These alert administrators and moderators take appropriate action to review and resolve any issues raised.