FEBRUARY 8-9, 2016 ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcements: As stated previously, please provide any feedback you have on the new support call format of reporting by exception and striving to always have a topic or guest speaker on the call. The Buddy-to-Buddy program is seeking community events to attend. If there are any events in your area, please let us know so that we may send a representative! Please log on to the website to submit your interaction logs, drill/event visit logs here: https://buddytobuddy.org/volunteer/auth/login. If you are on Facebook, please visit and like our page: www.facebook.com/BuddytoBuddyProgram.
FEBRUARY 8-9 DISCUSSION VOLUNTEER SUPPORT CALL NOTES Summary of Discussion Topic: Emergency Protocol/Mental Health Support Staff
Emergencies – What constitutes an emergency? What is Buddy-to-Buddy’s emergency protocol? o An example: B2B Program Manager, Stephanie, received an email from the friend of a Marine. The sender was concerned about her friend, saying that he wasn’t very pleased with his current VA care, and that he’d made remarks saying he may not be around to see his next birthday. The Marine lives in Indiana, and the sender wanted to know if B2B could help, or if B2B knows of a similar program in Indiana. Stephanie, seeing the bit about suicidal ideation, immediately called a member of B2B’s Mental Health Support Staff. There are a few key points here that help us see that this example is not a true emergency: We are receiving second hand information – it’s difficult to know the accuracy of it, and there isn’t much we can do for the Marine without any information about them. It has not been expressed that the Marine is immediately suicidal – not using “threatening” language, no talk of a plan, etc. Passing/brief mentions of suicidal ideation are not usually indicative of an emergency situation. The Marine is already connected to VA care. Well, even if it’s not a true emergency, we still want to help, so what can we do?
Suggest they speak with their Primary Care Physician at the VA about their care concerns. If they are not currently in mental health treatment, they can ask their PCP for a referral to mental health treatment. Suggest they call the veteran’s crisis line (1-800-273-TALK and press 1 for veterans) if they are feeling suicidal. Every call to the veterans line results in automatic follow up from the local VA’s Suicide Prevention Coordinator. If the friend is concerned about the Marine’s mental health but the Marine won’t call the crisis line, the friend can call the crisis line and give them the Marine’s phone number – they will call him directly. o In a true emergency, volunteers should follow these steps: Call 911: If the veteran has a plan for suicide and plans to act on it soon, or you think this may be the case. If possible, do not leave the veteran alone. Disregard confidentiality: Never agree to keep someone’s suicidal plans a secret. Notify program staff: If there is ever a time where you have to call 911, you also must notify program staff as soon as possible. If you’re in a situation that is not an immediate emergency, but in which a veteran discusses suicidal thoughts, please call program staff to assess the situation. Any time a veteran confides a suicide plan or attempt, the volunteer should notify program staff.
Summary of Volunteer Discussion: Issue/Concern: A volunteer is working with a veteran who currently lives in MI, formerly lived in NY. He owes thousands in back child support in New York and is seeking legal help. His wages are currently being garnished. Suggestions/Resolution: Staff emailed the information to the volunteer for legal aid and for a Buddy 2 that is a lawyer and may be willing to provide one-time assistance/advice in this matter.