DAPHNE, Ala.—With the holidays upon us, we are supposed to be full of good cheer. For many, this is the opposite.

The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, in partnership with the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce and the cities of Fairhope, Spanish Fort and Daphne, are seeking volunteers to become peer listeners and help others through emotional stresses related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the economic situation.

The peer listener training program will train residents to become advisers, friends and referral agents for community members who do not want to seek professional counseling services or who may not know that help is available. 

The sessions are free and open to anyone in the community. 

Three training sessions are scheduled:

• 1 to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 14,  at the Daphne United Methodist Church Youth Fellowship Room, Daphne, Ala. 2401 Main St. (Scenic 98)

• 1 to 5 p.m., Wednesday Dec. 15, at the Nix Center in Fairhope, 1 Bayou Drive off Scenic 98.

• 1 to 5  p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16 Five Rivers the Blakeley Classroom in Spanish Fort  30945 Rivers Blvd. off Battleship Parkway.

Candidates for the training should be highly trusted, dependable community members who are able to keep information confidential.

Training topics will include understanding technological disasters, listening and other communications skills, managing anger, identifying depression, assessing suicide risk and more.

Peer-listener volunteers should be willing to commit time as needed to assist individuals in coping with emotional stress in their communities.

The presenters will include LaDon Swann, PhD, director of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, and representatives from Baldwin Mental Health Center and AltaPointe Health Systems. 

Space is limited to 30 individuals per training session. Additional sessions will be planned based on interest.  Participants must RSVP to attend.  There is no cost.

Interested volunteers for the peer listener training may contact Rose Hall, at the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, rhall@eschamber.com  or call her at 251-928-6387.