THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 26, 1995 TAG: 9501240110
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
When students, faculty and their families at Tidewater Community College need a friendly ear, it's only a phone call away.
FirstCall is a telephone counseling service providing, for a fee, immediate access to licensed mental health professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Callers receive input and suggestions on matters ranging from school difficulties to job stress to marital problems. The program is anonymous and confidential.
``People can get advice and solutions to emotional problems or just listen to a friendly voice,'' said Bill Candler, TCC's director of communications. ``If they need more assistance or if the problem is of a more serious nature, the counselor will refer them to a mental health care provider. It's not a hotline.''
TCC is the only community college in the state, and perhaps the country, to offer such a service, according to Candler.
``It's the latest thing. Counseling used to be face-to-face only. Now all you have to do is pick up the phone,'' he said.
The service went on-line in September, but usage has been slow. To pick up the volume, the $1.50 per minute charge was lowered to 50 cents a minute in early January.
``We haven't gotten any response figures yet, but I thing the reduction will increase volume,'' Candler said.
FirstCall is provided in cooperation with Options Mental Health, a behavioral health care company in Norfolk. The firm is under the umbrella of First Hospital Corporation. Options provides the service. TCC delivers the access.
The company has similar arrangements with private corporations but this marks the first time that Options has provided the service through a college program. Elaine Collins, administrator of telephone counseling, said the firm approached TCC because the school's president, Larry L. Whitworth, has a reputation for innovation.
``We decided to offer this for a number of reasons,'' said Whitworth. ``Looking at a possible solution to adding additional staff was one. A main reason is that a lot of our students are working spouses under stress, and we wanted to provide them access to professional counseling when the staff might not be in. I don't think of it as being innovative. They came to me with a service I think is needed.''
Candler has spoken with several people who have used FirstCall.
``One person told me that she got some valuable advice in about 15 minutes. Her bill was about $7.50,'' he said.
For credit card use, call 1-800-870-7411. For direct billing, call 1-900-786-6616. by CNB