 Print |  Close Window | | Volunteer Your Way to Good Mental Health | | The Best of Times News -- June 2007 | | By Karen Kersten |
It is with much joy that I write on this month’s topic since it is a subject close to my heart. As fate would have it, I “volunteered” to write for this June edition unbeknownst to me what the topic was! Brian O’Connell wrote in “Voices from the Heart”, volunteering “gives me a high! I get my drive from grandma whose philosophy was that in order for you to consider yourself a part of the human race, you have to give to it.”Volunteerism is a major social phenomenon in the US. Older individuals make up a powerful force that contributes substantially to the welfare of our society, playing an important role in serving charities. The U.S. Labor Department’s cites that median time donated annually by older Americans is 96 hours, while the remaining population gives approximately 52 hours. What a valuable contribution! America’s 78 million baby boomers are beginning to hit their 60’s, with retirement right around the corner. This age group is “vital, able and professional with highly technical skills.” Marc Freedman of Civic Ventures has been studying the changing face of senior-citizen volunteerism for more than 17 years. He has found that seniors “have changed from past decades, living and staying healthier longer while looking for more active, vibrant, meaningful roles at nonprofit organizations.” Claudia Meiling, executive director of Tulsa’s Senior Corps states that “the desire to feel valued and useful as well as feeling vital and physically active were the most commonly cited reasons for volunteering. Researchers have focused on the beneficial effects of volunteer work to agencies, but little was explored regarding the affect on the health at different stages of life. “Americans Changing Lives” revealed that when individuals participated in volunteer services, symptoms of depression were reduced. The book examined the relationship among depressive symptoms, volunteering and limitations of functioning in middle age and late adulthood. Health benefits were evident as studies revealed that volunteer work can ameliorate the negative effects of depressive symptoms and increase an individual’s self-confidence, even during the life event of widowhood. Mental, physical and social activity increased in volunteers, which suggest improvement in health and higher quality of life. Alan Lukes in his book, “The Healing Power of Doing Good”, writes that scientific evidence proves time and again that helping others creates a heightened sense of well-being, improvement in sleep, stronger immune system, greater self-confidence, and even speedier recovery from surgical procedures. And, now, personally, from MY heart, I would like to share how volunteerism helped me and my family. It was 1985 and for a myriad of reasons I was feeling overwhelmed by life transitions. I faced major decisions while pondering the meaning of life, its purpose for me and other factors such as job skill level, etc. I also found myself struggling with depressive symptoms. This state of mind affected my attitude, feelings and action (or lack thereof). I began to isolate myself and found myself crying almost every day and not sleeping well at all. Many trips were made to doctors but they found no tangible reason for the migraines, chest pains, stomach aches and lump in my throat. As an answer to prayer, my loving Higher Power led me to the idea of helping others through volunteerism. I called the Family Support Center at Barksdale and learned that they were seeking a volunteer in the Family Services Division where donated items were given to airmen in need. That decision and action slowly drew me out of isolation, helping create the reconnection with human beings that I needed. I experienced a sense of purpose and genuine validation, which was the most amazing thing that could have happened to me. Eventually, I realized how wonderful I felt helping others, which motivated the decision to return to college. I finished my college education and was able to find employment in the field I dearly love. So, yes, volunteer work is especially close to this heart... it helped change my life forever. I have since met many wonderful people, have the privilege of working with an amazing and loving staff and can continue being the me I was meant to be. Through my personal journey, I have found that volunteering is a jewel among many treasures in this precious world. It is a diamond in the rough, that when polished, is great for one’s health, outlook, self-confidence, mental functioning, sociability, vitality, and creativity. Open the door to this wonderful opportunity. You may just be the gemstone that a nonprofit is praying for! The rewards are beyond measure! Karen Kersten is the Director of Education at The Center for Families and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. |