"VoluntariaMente" - The Impact of the Individual Social Role on the Improvement of Mental Health

Patrícia Tuna, Sofia Almeida, Ana Gonçalves, Ana Sara Ferreira, Francisco Coelho, Pedro Couto, Bárbara Reis

Keywords: Mental health; anxiety; depression; volunteering; primary health care

Background:

Mental health problems are very common and represent a significant proportion of health-seeking contacts in primary health care. Given the prevalence and impact of mental health disorders, it’s important to improve methods that promote social integration and well-being of these patients. Studies have shown that volunteer work promotes not only mental health, but also social inclusion, and is related with lower anxiety and depression symptoms. Taking into account the PERMA model (Seligman, M.) who proposes five pillars on which psychological well-being and happiness are based – Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishments –, a methodology was created that aims to foster experiences that stimulate the psychological well-being and happiness of participants.

Research questions:

This study aims to evaluate the effects of volunteer work handled by people suffering with Anxiety and/or Depression Disorders on their disease’s scores.

Method:

Patients from a Portuguese Family Healthcare Unit medicated with anxiolytics and/or antidepressants, in order to treat their Anxiety and/or Depression Disorders, were selected and integrated in a volunteering project that lasted a year. Anxiety symptoms were measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and depression scores were quantified by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, both before and after the intervention.

Results:

Thirty-three participants were selected and 25 were included in the study. The majority were female, over 50 years old, and performed an average of 48 hours of volunteering. There was a statistically significant reduction in levels of anxiety or/and depression scores after the intervention, regardless of the number of volunteer hours performed.

Conclusions:

Qualified and accompanied volunteer work had a positive effect on the participants, significantly lowering anxiety and depression scores.

Points for discussion:

The impact of volunteering on the improvement of mental health.

Volunteering as a complementary therapy for mental illness.

Primary health care and its articulation with the social sector as promoters of more health gains.

#41