Nicholas A M Ruiz-Huidobro, Shashwat Kala, Sydney Gray, Rebecca Lopez, Michelle A Silva
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: Student-run free clinics are primary care clinics committed to providing medical care to uninsured or underinsured individuals. The HAVEN Free Clinic has a department dedicated to mental health called the Behavioral Health Department (BHD). Volunteers include undergraduates and health professional graduate students from the schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health, as well as the Physician Associate Program. Licensed faculty supervise students in conducting screenings, providing psychoeducation, and facilitating referrals; volunteers also participate in didactic sessions and weekly case discussions. This brief report presents the reported experiences and perceived impact among a group of student volunteers.
Methods: Study participants (n = 30) comprised current and former student volunteers who completed a mixed-methods survey. The surveys were collected retrospectively and gathered quantitative and qualitative data to understand the perceived personal and professional impact associated with volunteering in a behavioral health department at a student-run free clinic.
Results: Survey results revealed that volunteering improved students' cultural awareness, confidence initiating referrals, and comfort recognizing emotional distress. There was also improved consciousness surrounding systemic issues (e.g., inadequate access to health insurance) affecting mental health and greater intention to pursue careers that include care to the medically underserved. Limitations include the limited number of respondents and non-behavioral outcomes for patients and students.
Conclusions: This study suggests that exposure to a medically underserved immigrant patient population in a student-run free clinic and volunteering in BHD to provide mental health support contributed to students' development as culturally informed future healthcare professionals.
期刊介绍：
Academic Psychiatry is the international journal of the American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry, American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training, Association for Academic Psychiatry, and Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry.
Academic Psychiatry publishes original, scholarly work in psychiatry and the behavioral sciences that focuses on innovative education, academic leadership, and advocacy.
The scope of the journal includes work that furthers knowledge and stimulates evidence-based advances in academic psychiatry in the following domains: education and training, leadership and administration, career and professional development, ethics and professionalism, and health and well-being.
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