Staying long-term with a supportive community.
 

I've been a member of TeenHelp for 18 years now, and a volunteer in various capacities for much of that time. TeenHelp has a superpower that keeps it relevant and important even 20 years later and that's its volunteers and community. Being a part of TeenHelp for so long has done a lot to shape who I am and where I'm at now in my life. TeenHelp was there for me when I needed support and a community the most, and has played a huge role in me pursuing a career in mental health. Through all the changes that I've seen TeenHelp go through in my nearly two decades on the site, the very core of it has always been the same - being a welcoming, supportive, safe community - and I think a lot of what's kept TeenHelp going for so long has been the volunteers helping to uphold those core values. Being a TeenHelp volunteer is one of the most rewarding things I've done.