AOP’s Peer Support Line turns two years old

The Association of Optometrists’ (AOP) Peer Support Line has celebrated its second anniversary.

Volunteers have taken 321 calls and provided 6,673 minutes of listening time since its launch on May 3, 2017. An average of 81% of calls are from optometrists, 10% are from newly-qualified optometrists and 9% are from undergraduate students and pre-reg optometrists.

A support line volunteer said: ‘We sometimes signpost callers to the AOP legal or employment services for advice, and then spend the rest of the call, which is as long as they want, empathising with their situation. For many callers this is so valuable, just talking to someone who understands. Nobody is going to judge or criticise you. We are open-minded and ready to listen, so you have nothing to lose.’