Volunteer Opportunities

Youth Volunteer applications are closed.

Adult Volunteer applications are closed.

Please check back for updates or email svcrisiscenter@star-vista.org for more information.

Our Volunteers

The StarVista Crisis Center relies on our passionate and dedicated volunteers to help deliver crisis services like the 24/7 hotline, the teen chat, and the teen text line. Volunteers are required to attend over 50 hours of training in crisis prevention, suicide assessment, mental health, and other related topics. Trainings are typically held twice a year. Our volunteer training and crisis services currently operate in a hybrid format, with some remote and some in-person elements. Please see eligibility requirements below for our volunteer positions.

  • Crisis Center Hotline Volunteer

    StarVista’s Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Center offers counseling, support and referrals to callers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Crisis Line volunteers may take calls from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and our local crisis hotline.

    Volunteers take calls from individuals dealing with issues that include: family stress, relationships, suicide, substance abuse, and mental illness. Counselors are fully trained by our professional staff before they volunteer.

    Eligibility:

    • Must be 21 years or over

    • Current resident of San Mateo County, CA, or the immediate surrounding counties

    • We are not accepting non-local applicants

    • Tech Requirements: Must have access to a working computer, camera, and microphone

  • Youth Peer Counselor

    Teen Crisis Services are part of a project established by StarVista’s Crisis Center to offer support and information to young people through a peer-based model. Peer counselors are responsible for facilitating live chat and text sessions with San Mateo County youth after school hours.

    Peer counselors provide youth support around mental health related topics, first-stage crisis intervention, and referrals in the community. They are supervised and supported by Crisis Center staff.

    Shifts are two hours long between the hours of 4pm-10pm, Monday-Friday. Volunteers are required to complete one shift per week for the first year of service.

    Eligibility:

    • Must be between the ages of 16-21

    • Current resident of San Mateo County, CA, or the surrounding counties

    • We are not accepting non-local applicants

Apply Here

Contact us with any questions.