In these final days of May and in light of the related awareness for mental health, I want to share a powerful component of sustaining a positive perspective and sound mental health: volunteering.
Although the value of volunteering to those who benefit from it is well understood and encouraged throughout the year, the value of volunteering to the individual on the giving end is not as well known. So many throughout our small community volunteer in various ways, and this has been the common fabric to our culture and amazing quality of life.
We need not look any further than our local volunteer services, such as Fire and EMS, or our numerous non-profit organizations spread throughout the county, as an example of the level of dedication and selfless sacrifice of time to see the impact of such generosity. Even though these all take significant time and effort to be part of, those involved never seem to tire or wane from their cause. There is an old saying, “If you want to find someone to get something done, find a busy person.” The act of giving can actually have an addictive component, as those who engage in it know the intrinsic benefits they are receiving through their acts of giving.
Believe it or not, they have finally put some science behind this reality. There is a hormone in our brain known as the “Happy Chemical.” Its formal name is serotonin, and it is increased when a person is engaged in volunteering or other activities directed at the well-being of others. This hormonal response results in a feeling of calm and satisfaction, reducing anxiety and depression.
Another factor in the healthy impacts of volunteerism is the sense of connection. Connection brings about a greater sense of purpose, and with that increased sense of purpose comes an improvement in our individual mental and emotional balance that can aid in healing past traumas and cultivate better stress management. (Who doesn’t need that?)
Volunteerism has also been shown to decrease one's risk for heart disease. Such activity increases the levels of “Good” HDL cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, and decreases blood glucose levels. This all means a decreased risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Win-win!
The unfortunate reality is that we are seeing a decrease in volunteerism throughout our society, which no doubt has a direct correlation to what we are seeing in a decrease in our society’s general state of mental and social well-being. Organizations throughout our country are struggling to recruit new members as those who have served our communities for many years are completing their time in service.
Volunteerism has been at the very core of our nation’s existence, and it will need to resurgence if we hope to sustain our communities into the future. So, if you want to improve your overall state of well-being, volunteer to serve on your local Fire or EMS department. Find a local organization that gives back to the community and get involved. You won’t regret it!
