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The role of nonprofessional volunteers in a Suicide Prevention Center

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Abstract

The procedures in the selection, training and supervision of 10 nonprofessional volunteers, to provide direct therapeutic crisis services to patients in a Suicide Prevention Center are described. One year's experience indicates a high degree of proficiency achieved by the volunteer in the handling of suicidal crises. The volunteers' reactions to the program are reported. Significant problems for the agency emerged in reference to precipitous increase in size of staff communication, and for the volunteer, in stimulation of problems of identity and selfconcept. The comments are limited to agency situations involving the use of nonprofessional volunteers in regular collaboration with a professional staff. Other models, such as entirely volunteer staffed groups, must be evaluated separately.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Suicide Prevention Center, Los Angeles

    Sam M. Heilig M.S.W. (psychiatric social worker, Co-Chief Social Worker),  Norman L. Farberow Ph.D. (psychologist, Co-Director, Principal Investigator, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (Psychology) &  Robert E. Litman M.D. (psychiatrist, Chief Psychiatrist, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry)

  2. VA Central Research Unit, USA

    Norman L. Farberow Ph.D. (psychologist, Co-Director, Principal Investigator, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (Psychology)

  3. University of Southern California School of Medicine, USA

    Norman L. Farberow Ph.D. (psychologist, Co-Director, Principal Investigator, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (Psychology) &  Robert E. Litman M.D. (psychiatrist, Chief Psychiatrist, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry)

  4. NIMH Center for Studies of Suicide Prevention, Bethesda, Maryland

    Edwin S. Shneidman Ph.D. (psychologist, Chief)

Authors
  1. Sam M. Heilig M.S.W.
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  2. Norman L. Farberow Ph.D.
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  3. Robert E. Litman M.D.
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  4. Edwin S. Shneidman Ph.D.
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Heilig, S.M., Farberow, N.L., Litman, R.E. et al. The role of nonprofessional volunteers in a Suicide Prevention Center. Community Ment Health J 4, 287–295 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01435256

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