Washington, DC (PRWEB) November 05, 2013 -- Give an Hour™ (http://www.giveanhour.org), a national nonprofit organization providing free mental health services to members of the military, veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, their loved ones, and their communities, announces that it will launch on Helpouts, a new service from Google that connects people who can give help to people who need help over live video (http://helpouts.google.com).
Helpouts by Google is a way for individuals anywhere in the world to connect with experts via live video. Experts will be available in a wide range of categories and Give an Hour will bring a network of licensed mental health professionals to the platform. Within Helpouts, individuals can book on-demand video sessions or schedule sessions in advance.
“Helpouts’ mission is to connect experienced, skilled, passionate people who want to give help to people around the world who need it, which aligns perfectly with Give an Hour’s mission of providing free mental health services from a network of licensed mental health professionals donating their time,” says Barbara Van Dahlen, Ph.D., founder and president of Give an Hour.
Veterans who live where there are no mental health providers or who are physically unable to travel from their homes will now have easy access to mental health care. Helpouts, which supports HIPAA-compliant providers, is confidential and secure and will remove barriers such as geography and mobility, allowing individuals to receive help wherever they live. Helpouts can be accessed 24/7 from a computer or mobile device. “This platform, I believe, will revolutionize the way mental health professionals are able to offer their services,” adds Dr. Van Dahlen. "We are proud to be working with Google to refine this innovation," she says.
“Helpouts is a natural extension of Google’s mission. There is a lot of information that is not documented on the web -- it’s in people’s heads, it’s informed by personal experiences. We believe Helpouts is an easy and efficient way to bring this kind of information to the world,” says Udi Manber, who leads Helpouts for Google. “Our goal is simple: help people help each other. We want to use the convenience and efficiency of the web to enable everyone, no matter where they are or what time it is, to easily connect with someone who can help.”
As this platform is rolled out, Give an Hour providers will be available via Helpouts in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington, D.C. to give services within their state. "Give an Hour is excited to begin this new era in mental health care. Over the coming months we will be adding more states as we move toward national coverage," notes Dr. Van Dahlen.
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About Give an Hour™
Give an Hour is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), founded in September 2005 by Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a psychologist in the Washington, D.C., area. The organization is dedicated to meeting the mental health needs of military personnel, their families, and the communities affected by the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. As of August 2013, Give an Hour has nearly 7,000 providers across the nation—in all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam—with more volunteer mental health professionals joining its network every day. In addition to counseling, providers also consult to schools, first responders, employers, and community organizations. Give an Hour has already provided approximately 95,000 hours of free service, valued at more than $9.5 million. To learn more, visit http://www.giveanhour.org or connected.giveanhour.org.
About Google
Google is a proud supporter of the U.S. military veteran community and deeply committed to helping all service members and military spouses make a successful transition to civilian life. GoogleForVeterans.com, youtube.com/veterans, and VetNetHQ.com are some of the many ways our products are helping veterans and military families pursue their goals. Follow us at google.com/+GoogleForVeterans for all updates related to our support of the community.
Lauren Itzkowitz, Give an Hour, 3019604082, [email protected]
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