Resource Tag: VOLUNTEER EVALUATION

Background: Befriending is one of many strategies with the potential to reduce suicidal ideation and decrease the risk of suicide. Aims: To measure change in suicidal ideation and behavior among visitors (service users) supported at The Listening Place (TLP), a charity which offers volunteer-run, face-to-face befriending to people who are suicidal. Method: This study was peer reviewed and […]

Purpose: Psychological distress and related factors in suicide prevention supporters during the COVID-19 pandemic were clarified. Methods: A web-based survey for supporters from helplines or psychiatric institutions was conducted from May to July 2021. It included items about profession, stress and anxiety, and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Results: 818 participants were analyzed. Psychological distress […]

Introduction. The concern that talking about suicide may intensify suicidal ideation is a common fear that has been dispelled by research, yet still lingers in popular consciousness. The aim of the current initiative was to develop a brief suicide prevention training for volunteers in a peer support program for veterans, given that layperson-facing approaches are critical […]

Published in “Back to the Future: Refocusing the Image of Suicide,” ed. by J L McIntosh

This chapter is concerned with the development of the attributes, skills, & knowledge that enable lay-people to recognize & support those at risk of suicide. It discusses particularly the selection & training of volunteers in suicide prevention agencies, & includes material that could also be adapted for use in the training of other groups. (19 […]

This article continues a discussion of altruism & focuses on distortions of caring that can take place & that can lead to volunteer burnout, real or perceived harm to the caller, or even a life-threatening situation for the volunteer or caller. Specific problems discussed: egoism, vicarious needs, diverting the therapeutic goal of the conversation, inappropriate […]

This document consists of 5 scales & guides to measure crisis center volunteer performance. The scales are: 1) Technical Effectiveness Scale; 2) A Scale for the Measurement of Empathic Understanding; 3) A Scale for the Measurement of Facilitative Genuineness; 4) A Scale for the Measurement of Facilitative Warmth; & 5) A Guide for Evaluating Volunteers […]

Common Ground is a crisis intervention agency in metropolitan Detroit. This presentation describes the training that volunteers at this agency receive, & the qualities that the agency looks for in volunteers, i.e. they are empathic, non-judgemental & have the ability to set aside personal beliefs to provide effective intervention for the caller. A unique aspect […]

This presentation describes the process used to select volunteers for Common Ground, a crisis centre in Michigan. Screening is held prior to the 3-times yearly training session & is directed by a staff supervisor with volunteers who do the actual screening. Screening is a 4-part process: 1) applicants first interview each other; 2) they then […]

Since 1981 the Crisis Home Program in Minneapolis has provided an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization for adults,namely licensed foster homes. The program is also staffed by psychiatric nurses. This presentation was on the recruitment & selection of foster home providers. Applicants are screened by telephone & personal interviews. If applicants are accepted & receive a […]

The purpose of this article is to assist in the recruitment of not only an adequate supply of volunteers to work on hotlines, but to assist in the selection of volunteers who will be caring & compassionate in fulfilling the human service mandate of the hotline. It examines volunteer motivations, the nature of the work, […]

This article examines the reliability of the Crisis Line Suicide Risk Scale (CLSRS), which is scale for testing the ability of crisis line staff to make accurate risk assessments. The authors found the CLSRS is a psychometrically sound instrument. It accurately reflected the experience & educational levels of the hotline volunteers tested. (VM)

A sample of responses made by telephone line volunteers to crisis centre callers indicated a particularly high level of “advice” was given & that feelings expressed by the callers were mostly ignored. Data was collected over a 3-year period & consisted of responses made by 350 volunteers. The authors suggest careful screening of volunteers & […]

Volunteers replying to an advertisement for an agency dealing with suicide (CFH) & for a youth service (YLL) that did not mention suicide in its advertising were compared in terms of psychiatric history. Both groups were compared with a sample of self-callers to a crisis centre. CFH applications had significantly more psychiatric illness than YLL […]

Noting that the volunteer suicidologist has become a vital component of the suicide prevention scene throughout the world, this chapter reviews the current state of the use of volunteers & attempts to focus attention on some of the possibilities which are emerging for the maximum utilization of volunteers in the future. The discussion includes information […]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the work of a crisis centre’s telephone service. The Nashville Crisis Call Center is staffed by 65 volunteers and 10 “back-up” professionals. Data was collected from an analysis of the referral network for a one month period; the agency’s image in the community was also investigated. Scales […]

This is a comprehensive review (1984) of the operational methods used by call-in services included in suicide prevention services in Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, & Lethbridge, Alberta. A review is made of funding, volunteer recruitment, confidentiality, operating procedures, recording methods, client follow-up, & reference resources. Twelve appendices are included: these contain materials used […]

Many of the suicide prevention centers that developed throughout the country during the last decade have evolved into general crisis intervention services. At the same time, they have stimulated the development of a wide variety of agencies that utilize nonprofessional volunteers who, primarily through telephone contact, provide helping services to people in crisis. This paper […]

A person who was role-playing called 10 community-based hotlines & presented them with her personal problems. In all cases, the hotlines functioned at a level considered to be less than minimally facilitative. (LH)

This study attempts to determine some personality characteristics of good volunteers. A good volunteer was defined as one who is most effective in handling crisis calls. Results show that the most effective volunteers tended to score higheron the scales self-confidence & dominance, & lower on the abasement scale. These findings would tend to support the […]

Reviews crisis intervention studies conducted (a) in community suicide prevention/crisis intervention programs, (b) in psychiatric settings & (c) with surgical patients. Evaluation emphasis needs to shift from crisis worker performance to client behavior for (a); (b) suffers from methodological shortcomings that prohibit definitive conclusions; (c) indicates the necessity for developing intervention techniques most appropriate for […]

The article contains a wealth of information concerning the impact of the Samaritans in England, and a general review of other related research. Confounding variables are considered including an analysis on the decrease of suicide deaths (in several locations) and the increasing numbers of suicide attempts. The impact and involvement of medical agencies is explored […]