Benefits Of Volunteering

Volunteering is an important service for the growth and continuation of a healthy society. One does not need degrees or qualifications to serve. All that is needed is the motivation to contribute to just causes and those in need. This is why people volunteer. It is a result of the one’s compassion in order to give back to the community, and it is a significant practice for the benefit of not only the recipient but also the volunteer. Although people are compelled to volunteer in contemplation of helping others in their community, they are rewarded with prosperity in mental and physical health and development of new skills.
The volunteer can expect mental health benefits as one of many effects volunteering has on one who regularly serves. In the article “Volunteering and its Surprising Benefits” it states, “The social contact aspect of helping and working with others can have a profound effect on your overall psychological well-being” (Segal and Robinson). Because volunteering has its own community, one becomes socially active. The social aspect of volunteering is what provides mental benefits. Human interaction directly combats depression, which is a very common mental illness. Some activities may also require one’s brain to perform well and make advanced decisions. As one makes decisions and solves problems, the brain in strengthened. Volunteering also creates a sense of purpose. People with higher self-esteem become at lower risk for disease and are more likely to continue