how open are psych hospitals to volunteers

[whoabuddy]

Hi!
Im very interested in pursuing a career in psychiatry. Im only sixteen, but I know this is what I want to do. Im trying to do all that I can now to prepare myself for med school, etc...
Im interested in working/volunteering at a psych hospital...I think this would be a good experience, and I think it would help expose me to the job, etc...
Seeing that Im only sixteen, how open do think they would be to giving me a job? Im not at all interested in it for money, so I would gladly volunteer doing whatever was needed...
Also, are there any other places (hospitals, doctor's offices, etc) that would be more willing to let me volunteer?
Any input would be great. Thanks in advance!
-Lauren

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[vesper9]

Most hospitals love volunteers and I've found very little trouble in finding a spot, although psych units may be a little harder to get into.

I would call/go to a big general hospital near you and find out about their volunteer office...go to the orientation and let them know you're interested in volunteering on a psych ward.

Here are some personal tips from my experience:
*check out a few hospitals. One place I went to had rarely had psych volunteers and weren't too sure if they could find a spot for me. Additionally I was told that I would not be able to know the diagnosis or medical condition of any of the patients (not very useful).
*I knew the public hospital had a good program set up for psych volunteering, but they had a long waiting list. I asked for other psych opportunities, things like outpatient services, and instead she placed me in a subacute inpatient center where clients had longer stays...it was actually a perfect fit for me and they were very excited to have me, since few volunteers had ever been referred there. I go there every Saturday for 5 hours and it's a great experience!

If you have trouble finding an inpatient opportunity, especially because of you age, try teen suicide/mental health hotlines, homeless shelters, local drug abuse centers, retirement homes, etc....you will see more than enough psychology in these situations.

I think it's awesome that you're looking to volunteer at this age and I think it will really give you an opportunity to find your interest in psychology early. Good Luck!

 

[pschmom1]

Yeah, I'm also interested in this. The hospital in my city has a psych floor, yet it is imposible to get in. When I went through my volenteer orientation, they didn't even speak of the ward even though we passed right by it. When I asked about it, the volenteer coordinator had no knowlege of anyone getting on that floor and acted as if it were housing an outbreak of small pox. I am having a heck of a time volenteering in a place that will give me an oportunity to be semi involved w/any type of mentally ill or the like. Maybe it's just me, but I am far more intimidated to approach a psychiatrist to shadow than a family doc, ob/gyn, im, ect. Psychiatrists are just intimidating to me though. I wonder if others will feel that way about me in another 150yrs!

 

[brg649]

I think it's definitely possible but your age will be an obstacle (sorry to have to say that 🙁 ). I volunteered in a psyc ward at my local hospital, but it took a bit of convincing for the volunteer coordinator. Just for refence I was a college junior at the time. The mindset is that the psyc ward could be potentially more dangerous and volunteers need to be very responsible.

My advice: first ask outright if they have allowed psyc volunteers in the past. If you get declined try work something out like working a month in the ER/Surgery etc, then try out Psyc when the nursing staff can say good things about you to the volunteer coordinator. 😉

Or, of course, just shop around until you find a hospital that lets you immediately. Good luck and I hope you have a great volunteer experience!

 

[OldPsychDoc]

A child & adolescent unit might be a place where a motivated HS student could volunteer. The kids there do have to continue their schooling (e.g. need homework help), and are easily bored (e.g. recretion therapy opportunities). There would be less concern about subjecting a teenage volunteer to hypersexual manic patients with poor boundaries, or manipulative antisocial substance abusers!

 

[pschmom1]

Thanks all, but I'm not sure my age would play a role! I am a non trad and I am rather young, but at the age of 27 I don't feel I fall in the category of high school. I would love to think that I look like I'm in high school, however, until I make friends with a good cosmetic surgeon, I still look 27 . That being said, I personally don't think that looks would play a huge role (for me at this time), but I can see where the concern lies. The only hospital in my city that has a psych floor will not allow, to my present knowlege, anyone other than qualified employees in the unit. That sucks for me, but I guess that I will have to get my experience elseware. It would be nice to get some experience in the feild that I want to specialize in to be absolutely certian that that is what I want, but I guess I will have time for that in med school! I think the hospitals here in my city are a little less advantagous than others I here of! I say I will be a psychiatrist one day, but I guess I can't be so sure! ( I really can't imagine ANYTHING else, but I won't count my chicks 🙂

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Thanks all, but I'm not sure my age would play a role! I am a non trad and I am rather young, but at the age of 27 I don't feel I fall in the category of high school. I would love to think that I look like I'm in high school, however, until I make friends with a good cosmetic surgeon, I still look 27 . That being said, I personally don't think that looks would play a huge role (for me at this time), but I can see where the concern lies. The only hospital in my city that has a psych floor will not allow, to my present knowlege, anyone other than qualified employees in the unit. That sucks for me, but I guess that I will have to get my experience elseware. It would be nice to get some experience in the feild that I want to specialize in to be absolutely certian that that is what I want, but I guess I will have time for that in med school! I think the hospitals here in my city are a little less advantagous than others I here of! I say I will be a psychiatrist one day, but I guess I can't be so sure! ( I really can't imagine ANYTHING else, but I won't count my chicks 🙂

The age comment was aimed at the OP, who divulged being 16 (though on the internet, who knows--he could be a bald, fat middle-aged man living in his mother's basement and trolling for cute young psychiatric-types! 😉 )

Your observation is correct though--due to concerns about confidentiality, etc, psych units are not overwhelmingly volunteer-friendly. Which is too bad, in a way... 🙁

 

[vesper9]

pschmom1-

I would still ask the volunteer coordinator to contact someone in the psych department and see if they could use a mature and intelligent pre-med student once a week. A little bit of persistence is key in this area!

After that I would look for outpatient settings like Board & Care homes, group homes, halfway houses, neighborhood mental health centers, even homeless shelters or prison wards. Mentally ill people can be found in a large number of places outside the inpatient unit.

 

[pschmom1]

Thanks OPD and vesper. When I return to volenteering in the spring, I am definately going to challange my options. Hopefully I will run into someone who works up there. My volenteer coordinator is 98yrs old and has already told me NO PSYCH! Pretty much the only way I'll get on the ward is to be crazy myself 😕 But I'll keep trying anyways. Maybe they'll get sick of me and let me in 😉 I'll let ya know if I have any luck. Thanks again!

 

[OldPsychDoc]

...Maybe they'll get sick of me and let me in 😉 I'll let ya know if I have any luck. Thanks again!

Five words:

"I'm suicidal with a plan".

🙄