“Let’s Volunteer our way out of depression!”
- by Inder Singal
The world is becoming increasingly negative. We have dislike for each other based on not just race and religion, we have created hundreds of subgroups that we belong to, and we invent ways to dislike others. Although reasons for increase in negativity will remain debatable, twenty-four-hour news media, political segregation and social media are contributing to our anxiety and our negative behavior towards others.
Mental health is not merely a buzz word anymore, it has become a pandemic. Alarming number of youths are experiencing mental illness. In the USA 19.86% of adults are experiencing some sort of mental illness, equivalent to nearly 50 million Americans. Of these 4.91% are experiencing a severe mental illness. The use of antidepressants is on rise everywhere in the world.
I am not giving any medical advice here. I acknowledge that depression is a complex disease, and it requires many treatment modalities customized to individual patients, but I would like to propose adding volunteering as one of the treatment options. It is a powerful way to combat depression and improve mental health. Research has shown that volunteering can provide a range of benefits for people who are struggling with depression or other mental conditions. Volunteering provides an opportunity to connect with others and help build new relationships, that in turn help eliminate isolation and loneliness. Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and meaning, which can help combat feelings of hopelessness. Most importantly volunteering provides a sense of accomplishment and pride.
Let’s try to ignore the negativity around us and let’s just try to help a few around us. A few hours a week or a month will not only change your life, but it will also change lives of many. Adarsh Charitable Foundation is happy to help you navigate this journey. Please ask any of us on the team to guide you take the first step towards life free of stress.