Medical trainees at IU School of Medicine who become acutely distressed can access crisis mental health treatment through ProtoCall, a 24-hour dedicated phone line: 317-278-HELP (4357). A trained mental health clinician answers calls and provides step-by-step assistance to every caller. This support service is available to medical trainees at all levels at all nine IU School of Medicine campuses for emergencies or urgent needs.
“It’s not possible to predict or schedule the moment that a medical trainee will need emergency assistance,” said Samia Hasan, MD, director of mental health services at IU School of Medicine. “We want to ensure that learners in crisis get the help they need when they need it.”
The emergency phone line is the school’s latest response to students’ concerns about the availability of an array of mental health services. Other recent service enhancements include:
- The hiring late last year of Dr. Hasan, a board-certified psychiatrist, to provide psychiatric services
- The recent hiring of Jessica Fultz, MSW, LCSW, a licensed social worker, to provide therapy and manage the mental health program, expanding the therapy services already provided by Suzanne Kunkle, PhD, a licensed psychologist
- Creation of the ombuds program to resolve conflicts
- Expansion of wellness programming
- Filling of lead advisor positions with professionals who are trained to recognize distress and refer students for help
In situations that are not urgent, medical trainees can call 317-278-2381 to make an appointment for treatment by the staff psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker. Find more information on Mental Health Services available at IU School of Medicine.
