One University's Use of Volunteer Mental Health Professionals

Abstract

The Homewood campus of The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore has been served by volunteer mental health professionals—psychiatric residents, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and counselors—over a 17-year period. The nonsalaried associates have donated an estimated $3 million in professional services (based on prevailing rates for therapy) and served a yearly caseload varying from 293 in 1973 to more than 500 in the years since 1978. The author offers suggestions for others who would like to beat the financial crunch by using trained volunteers.

Key Words:

• counseling
• mental health
• psychiatry
• psychotherapy
• volunteers