Give an Hour, founded in 2005, has created a network of volunteer mental health professionals pledging an hour a week of their services, free of charge, to members of the military—including active duty, reserve, and guard—veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq, their families, and their communities. Their services range from one-on-one counseling to substance abuse treatment, addressing the many needs of the individuals and families of the armed services. Give an Hour providers are also available to consult to other organizations about the mental health issues affecting those who serve. And they are available to give presentations at community gatherings and reintegration events. The approximately 7,000 licensed mental health professionals working with Give an Hour have contributed over 94,000 hours in support of our troops and their families. These volunteers include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, pastoral counselors, and other mental health professionals. Providers are located across the country—in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam.
Give an Hour offers an important option for the men, women and families who serve our country by providing services in the community at no cost to those in need.
- There is no limit to the number of sessions one can receive; help is available for as long as it is needed.
- Through its network of volunteer professionals, Give an Hour’s current focus is on supplementing the mental health services provided by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Give an Hour’s services expand beyond those groups who are typically eligible to receive mental health benefits, including parents, siblings, and unmarried partners who are often impacted by wartime service.
While no additional training is required, Give an Hour is offering a variety of training opportunities to those individuals who might be interested in joining its network of providers. In addition, providers will have the opportunity to interact with each other, to share information about their experience and to seek feedback and additional resources.
We ask our providers to participate in our network for one year in order to provide continuity of care for these deserving families.
Immediate Help Needed in North Carolina
There is a shortage of mental health professionals available to provide these critical services in North Carolina. We are asking all mental health professionals to join in this effort. If you are currently licensed, please visit our website www.giveanhour.org to sign up for our national network and to learn more about our organization. We also welcome volunteers who want to join us in developing and implementing this project. Please share our website with your colleagues.
For questions or more information, please contact jgrove@giveanhour.org