It’s Mental Health Awareness Week in Canada! This week was designed to raise awareness and destigmatize mental health issues. This year, Mental Health Week is even more important as more of us have been experiencing feelings of anxiety and stress from the current global pandemic. More than half of Canadians reported that their mental health worsened due to social distancing. If you relate to this, just know that it is okay to feel this way. 2020 has thrown a lot of challenges in our way, but it has also offered us valuable opportunities to reflect. Study author Vikram Patel from Harvard University said the current pandemic is a “historic opportunity to reimagine mental health care.”
There are several studies that prove that volunteering can benefit a person’s physical and mental health. It doesn’t just benefit the communities they are volunteering in! A study done by United Healthcare and VolunteerMatch showed that 93% of people who volunteered noted an improvement in mood and lowered stress levels. Volunteering benefits mental health in three ways.
Provides a sense of purpose
With the pandemic changing our lives in significant ways, you may feel lost at times. Volunteering can help you find direction and a sense of purpose in life through helping others, and being a part of something bigger than yourself. Volunteers are the key to success in most, if not all, nonprofit organizations. Giving them a few hours of your time can help them immensely, while improving your mental wellbeing by providing you a sense of purpose.
Prevents feelings of isolation
Although social distancing measures only enforce physical distance between us, they have inadvertently created feelings of isolation and loneliness. Volunteering offers opportunities to meet new people and make friends, even when you are at home. By connecting with others who are passionate about a common cause, these feelings of isolation can be decreased.
Reduces stress
Volunteering can reduce stress by taking your mind off your worries and helping you stay mentally active. 79% of people who volunteer experience lower stress levels.
So, if you’ve been experiencing feelings of anxiety or stress, volunteering can help improve your mood and overall well being. Many charities and nonprofit organizations have remote, online volunteering opportunities during this time. Here are some great sites to find volunteering opportunities:
As we continue together during this pandemic, there will be continued stress from adapting to the ‘new normal’ and feelings of uncertainty of the future. Again, it’s okay to feel these feelings.
Listen to yourself and do what you need to do to take care of your mental health. Remember, there are people who are willing to listen to your worries, and there are resources available to help you. We may be physically distanced, but you are not alone.
