Would you consider a crisis call hotline clinical volunteering?

[deleted841854]

Just seeking the opinion of the SDN community. Thanks! The description is from their website

"Crisis Call Center provides crisis prevention and intervention services, information and referral resources, community education and outreach programs and sexual assault advocacy services. In addition to our staff, approximately 70 highly-trained volunteers answer the crisis lines and provide face-to-face advocacy for victims of sexual assault.
Crisis line volunteers respond to calls dealing with issues such as substance abuse, domestic violence, child/elder abuse and neglect, suicide, loneliness, and depression. Our crisis line service is available 24/7/365 for individuals who need someone to talk to and have nowhere else to turn."​

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Members don't see this ad.

 

[OneTwoThreeFour]

No. Would consider it community service.

 

[Ayahuasca]

I believe that LizzyM says something like "If you can smell the patient, then it is clinical volunteering"
I would not classify this as clinical volunteering on my app.

 

[b52bomber]

No, unless you went out and saw the patient yourself.

 

[deleted841854]

Thanks guys!

 

[Isoval]

No. I would consider it community service (assuming you aren’t being compensated in any way), but definitely not clinical volunteering.

 

[LizzyM]

Err on the side of caution and call it non-clinical volunteering.... if the adcom disagrees, they'll "up-grade" it in their minds but if you do the reverse (call it clinical) and they disagree, you are in a bit of a pickle.

That said, it is a much needed community service and one that will teach you to think on your feet and come to appreciate the range of emotions people express when in crisis and how to manage your interactions with peopl in crisis so that you can help them and remain healthy yourself.

 

[deleted841854]

Hi guys, I just found out that this same service offers sexual assault support program where you actually meet with the victims. Here is some info about the program.

"The Sexual Assault Support Services program offers emergency face-to-face crisis intervention and advocacy for sexual assault victims and their families and/or friends 24/7/365. Advocates respond in person to local area hospitals or law enforcement agencies to provide much-needed support and assistance for those who have been victimized. Volunteers providing services to victims of sexual assault are scheduled for a minimum of three 12-hour on-call shifts per month. Sexual Assault Support Services volunteers are dispatched to the hospital as needed, any time of the day or night."
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Regardless I believe it would be good to do for the community and something very great to talk about! Just wanting to see if you guys would consider it to be clinical. I am aware of the time commitment they ask for, however this upcoming year will be my gap.

 

[Gibbward]

I did. Pretty much made that my main clinical experience (only volunteered in a nursing home as my other “clinical volunteering” EC). I talked about the experience in all my interviews and in my personal statement and I’m in med school now. Yes you don’t see the people, but you engage in really meaningful and useful interactions with people who need metal health support. I mean when I did it, I talked people with schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder, and I was actually helping them cope with their illnesses in some way. Seems like a better clinical experience than changing sheets and restocking shelves in the hospital if you asked me.

 

[LizzyM]

Hi guys, I just found out that this same service offers sexual assault support program where you actually meet with the victims. Here is some info about the program.

"The Sexual Assault Support Services program offers emergency face-to-face crisis intervention and advocacy for sexual assault victims and their families and/or friends 24/7/365. Advocates respond in person to local area hospitals or law enforcement agencies to provide much-needed support and assistance for those who have been victimized. Volunteers providing services to victims of sexual assault are scheduled for a minimum of three 12-hour on-call shifts per month. Sexual Assault Support Services volunteers are dispatched to the hospital as needed, any time of the day or night."
​

Regardless I believe it would be good to do for the community and something very great to talk about! Just wanting to see if you guys would consider it to be clinical. I am aware of the time commitment they ask for, however this upcoming year will be my gap.

I do think that this is volunteer-clinical, particularly when the interaction takes place in the hospital. It also requires considerable training so be sure you are willing to commit to enough shifts for enough months to make it worthwhile.