Sherry Nelson, Human Development Specialist
Though you may not be a mental health counselor, you can link an individual or family to resources to help. It is important to keep phone numbers and names of mental health professionals and facilities at your finger-tips. (See the insert in this issue).Guidelines for making referrals:
1) Be aware of agencies and resources in your community.
2) Listen for signs and symptoms that the person or family needs help that you can’t provide.
3) Assess what agency or community resource would be most appropriate. If you don’t know, call the agency and ask.
4) Discuss the referral with your client. You might say, "I sense you need help with ____. I think _____organization can help you."
5) Explore your client’s willingness to contact the resource. You might say, "Does it make sense to you to contact ____?" or "how do you feel about seeking help from this agency?" If they feel comfortable, urge them to do so.
6) If the client is unwilling to make the contact or there is some danger if action
is not taken, you may take the initiative:
a. Call the agency
b. Identify yourself and your relationship to the client
c. State what you think the client’s needs are (depressed, suicidal, needs food or
fuel or legal advice.)
d. Ask the agency what follow-up action they will take and what (if anything) you can do.
7) Try to find out whether the client contacted the resource and whether they were helped. Don’t pry for details - just make sure they know that you care and that you want them to get the help they need.
Excerpt from "Helping the Hurting: Guidelines for Helping Professionals," a Nebraska Extension guidesheet.
Visit the Missouri Department of Mental Health web site
The Missing Piece | Educational Opportunities | Article Archive
 |
Nancy Flood, floodn@missouri.edu Consumer & Family Economics Specialist Putnam County University Outreach and Extension Center Last Update: May 23, 2001 |