Connect with an MSFriend (Peer Telephone Supporter)
No matter how wonderful friends and family can be, there are times when people want to talk to someone who understands exactly what they are going through—someone who has MS, too.
That’s where MSFriends come in. Volunteers with MS connect with callers to share how they live with MS and to help with problem-solving or challenges people with MS face in relationships. They may also help with symptom management.
MSFriends averages 9,000 calls a year, and they are completely confidential. “MSFriends allows people to connect when they feel like it, unlike self-help groups, which meet at a specific time,” says Kimberly Koch, MPA, associate vice president, Family and Support Programs for the Society.. “If your question comes up at an odd hour, there’s a place to reach out for support.”
The program got its start in 2005 under the umbrella of the VisionWorks Foundation,
but is now being administered directly by the Society. “This allows us to expand the ways
people living with MS can connect,” said Koch. “It’s nationwide, so people can get involved
even if their chapter doesn’t have a peer support program.”
What are the benefits of an MSFriends peer relationship?
- Having someone who knows first hand what it is like to live with MS to talk with and share your story. MSFriends is there to help you deal with the changes brought about by MS.
- Having a relationship that provides you with a sounding board for good decision-making and problem solving.
- MSFriends is just a telephone call away ― ready to help you.
To speak with an MSFriend, call 866-673-7436 between the hours of 7 am and midnight ET.
Would you like to become an MSFriend?
If you’d like to be an MSFriend, click here to learn more.
