Development and implementation of a Clerkship Counseling Hotline.
BACKGROUND
The 3rd year of medical school is stressful, yet students may hesitate to access their school's mental health services.


METHODS
We instituted the Clerkship Counseling Hotline, an anonymous, 24-hour cell phone hotline staffed by an independent counselor.


RESULTS
Hotline calls were logged, and students were surveyed regarding the hotline. Seventeen students called the hotline 25 times during the year. Callers' concerns included disillusionment with medicine, anxiety over performance, and personal problems. The hotline did not reduce overall student stress compared with the 3rd-year classes preceding the hotline. However, 75% said continuing the hotline was important, and 75% found the hotline's availability reassuring.


CONCLUSIONS
A clerkship counseling hotline may enhance medical schools' mental health resources.
Gallagher
Thomas H
TH
Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. thomasg@u.washington.edu
Munro
Jan
J
Kahl
Leslie E
LE
D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D003376:Counseling; D015277:Hotlines; D006801:Humans; D008923:Missouri; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*