Related Experiment Videos
Volunteer case aides in the U.S.A
The International Journal of Social Psychiatry
|January 1, 1975
Summary
Volunteer Case Aides offer valuable one-to-one support for psychiatric patients. This study explores their role in mental health care and the establishment of a new program in England.
Area of Science:
- Mental Health Services
- Volunteerism in Healthcare
- Psychiatric Patient Support
Background:
- Mrs. Jeanne Lewington's 1973 Winston Churchill Fellowship focused on volunteer utilization in U.S. mental health.
- She observed volunteer roles in state and private psychiatric hospitals and community health centers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of volunteers, specifically Volunteer Case Aides, in mental health settings.
- To detail the one-to-one support model provided by Volunteer Case Aides to psychiatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of volunteer programs in the United States.
- Detailed description of the Volunteer Case Aide model for psychiatric patient engagement.
Main Results:
- Identification of Volunteer Case Aides as a significant contributor to psychiatric patient care.
- Successful application of the one-to-one support principle observed in the U.S.
Conclusions:
- The study informed the establishment of a two-year Volunteer Case Aide Programme in England.
- The program, based at St. Crispin Hospital, aimed to replicate the successful U.S. model.