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Mentally Nourished through Volunteering

Writer's picture: Clean Planet Project Co.Clean Planet Project Co.

Updated: Jun 28, 2023

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the CPP team could not be more jazzed to share some ways how being in the great outdoors can do wonders for you mental wellbeing. And we want to share another unique way to boost your mood that might surprise you!


We are all on our own mental health journeys, so feel free to take what you need from this blog post. We included some scientific research, ideas, and helpful resources. We know mental health can be a difficult and trigger some topic, so if you want to just breeze through and read the lighter stuff - go ahead and skim😊


What Do Nature and Mental Health Have in Common?

It has been scientifically researched and studied that being in nature and participating in an activity such as walking, hiking, biking, swimming, or anything that get your body moving in nature can be psychologically healing, mood boosting, and reduce stress and anxiety (McQuillan, 2019). It’s important to note that these studies acknowledge that outdoor recreation is not a cure to mental illnesses such as depression or PTSD, but this type of activity could have therapeutic potential in the treatment of these types of mental illnesses (McQuillan, 2019).


Some of the many benefits of spending time in the great outdoors include (Mind.org.UK, 2021):

  • reduce feelings of stress or anger

  • increase Vitamin D levels

  • help you take time out and feel more relaxed

  • improve your confidence and self-esteem

  • encourage you be more active

  • boost faster healing

  • improved concentration

  • connect you to your local community

  • help you meet and get to know new people

  • reduce loneliness

  • help you feel more connected to nature

The great thing about spending time outside is that it doesn’t have to be an extravagant activity; simply walking out your front doorstep and stopping to appreciate the nature that you walk by every day can be healing.


Volunteering and Mental Health

There’s one other thing that has been shown to have improvements in mental health, and it’s not always the most popular topic when it comes to self-care tips: volunteering!

You heard that right - helping other people has been scientifically shown to have improvements in your own mental health by releasing dopamine in the brain (mayoclinichealthsystem.org). You may have heard of the term “helper’s high” - it’s that warm fuzzy feeling you get after volunteering to help others, and there’s science to back it! Volunteering can:

  • Reduce stress

  • Increase confidence

  • Improve overall health

  • Develop a sense of purpose

Volunteering comes in many forms. It doesn’t have to be serving food at a shelter or making blankets for a local hospital (although these are amazing ways to help!) - it can be a way for you to utilize your skills and passions. Do you like graphic design? Find a nonprofit that does work you care about and see if they need any content to share their mission. Are you a lawyer? Volunteer to provide legal advice for a community organization. And don’t feel bad about making your volunteer activity enjoyable and worthwhile for you! The benefits of volunteering goes both ways.


Similar to going outside, volunteering doesn’t have to be a big event. It can be little random acts of kindness that you fit into your daily schedule.


Your Mental Health Matters

We know mental health is a difficult conversation to have not only with yourself but with others who may be struggling. There are many things that you can do to promote your mental health, and we mentioned just a couple of them, but sometimes support from others is the best way to help.


You are not alone! There is help, and there is hope.





Resources


Mental Health Resources from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Crisis Text Line Text “HELLO” to 741741 SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)


Another mental health resource relating to social media: socialmediavictims.org/mental-health/suicide/


Cited Sources:


Additional Resources:



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