The role of volunteers in community mental health programs

Volunteers can be a valuable asset to a community mental health program. A training program is indicated to widen their usefulness and appreciation. Training should include didactic material relevant to areas where they will be working and it should also be used as an assessment of resources that are brought to the program by the volunteers. Volunteers should actively participate in program planning. There is some indication that "communication" between the volunteer and the community rather than the professional workers and the community is most effective. Professional time can be employed more usefully in supervision and in training of volunteers.