The Healing Power of Volunteering: How Helping Others Can Alleviate Depression and Anxiety

As we help others we find, in truth, we have helped ourselves.

Living with depression and anxiety can feel isolating and overwhelming. Many people find that attending our courses and one-on-one appointments helps them learn new skills to overcome their mental health challenges. Yet, an often overlooked but powerful way to support mental health is through volunteering. Giving time and energy to help others can bring meaningful benefits that complement our hub services and create a positive cycle of healing, one where you pay it forward.

How Volunteering Supports Mental Health

Volunteering offers a sense of purpose and connection, which are crucial for those struggling with depression and anxiety. When you volunteer, you focus on others’ needs, which can reduce self-focused negative thoughts that often fuel these conditions. This shift in attention helps break the cycle of rumination and worry.

In addition, volunteering builds social connections. Isolation worsens depression and anxiety, but volunteering introduces opportunities to meet new people and form supportive relationships. Supporting and helping others brings joy back into your life. A change in perspective occurs from 'what can I get from life' to 'what can I give'. It is in giving we find re-connection and joy.

Physical and Emotional Benefits of Volunteering

Helping others also has physical benefits that impact mental health. Studies show that volunteering can lower blood pressure and reduce stress hormones. The physical activity involved in many volunteer roles releases endorphins, natural mood boosters that improve overall wellbeing.

Volunteering increases awareness of purpose. Completing tasks and seeing the positive impact of your efforts can boost your mood, elevate emotions and increase desire to do more. This sense of achievement counters the helplessness and low self-esteem common in depression.

Volunteering Alongside Our Services

Volunteering works best when combined with our courses and one-on-one appointments. Courses provide education to learn the skills to stay mentally healthy, while appointments offer personalised guidance. Volunteering adds a practical, real-world dimension to this learning.

For example, someone attending a course might volunteer at our events. This experience allows them to practice the SEJ Process, testing their thoughts and new found coping skills in social settings, reinforcing what they learned in sessions. Our free Wellbeing Assessments can help tailor volunteering choices to individual needs and monitor progress.

Practical Tips for Getting Started

If you are considering volunteering to support your mental health, start small, be honest with your Consultant about your fears. Choose activities that feel manageable and enjoyable. Here are some ideas:

• Cleaning and preparing rooms

• Assisting in events, supporting attendees

• Meet and greet at our events

• Providing Social Media support

• Admin Support

Set realistic goals and listen to your limits. It’s essential to recognise that pushing yourself too hard can lead to burnout or exacerbate existing mental health challenges. Therefore, it’s perfectly okay to take breaks when needed, allowing yourself the necessary time to recharge and reflect on your progress.

Easing back into the workplace

Volunteering can be a wonderful way to ease back into the workforce if you are not yet ready to commit to a full-time job due to your mental health challenges. This approach allows you to contribute to your community, gain valuable experience, and build confidence in a low-pressure environment. It can also help you develop new skills, expand your network, and reignite your passion for work without the immediate demands of a traditional job.

By volunteering, you can gradually acclimatise yourself to a work setting while still prioritising your mental health and personal growth. This pathway can serve as a stepping stone towards future employment, ensuring that when you do return to work, you do so equipped with a renewed sense of purpose and wellbeing.

Love Mary x