Helping others and yourself

Not all activities aimed at improving mental health require an outside expert. For example, self-directed activities (such as exercise and meditation) have a growing body of evidence supporting their positive impact on mental health.

Cultivating a sense of ‘purpose’ through service has also been shown to benefit mental health. Like exercise and meditation, doing service-related activities can be extremely powerful, and has few negative side effects.

Readjusting to life after the military can be particularly difficult for veterans who miss the sense of being ‘useful.’ Service members and their families have often become acclimated to a strong feeling of community, and find that service activities in the civilian world can be surprisingly powerful tools for adjusting to the civilian world, and fostering positive mental health and family relationships.

Veterans’ experiences are highly relevant to civilians who may be looking for new ways to introduce positive and substantial activities to their lives.

Suggestions:

Finding a local nonprofit with some connection to your skills and interests can be very rewarding.

Soup kitchens, libraries, and food banks are often looking for volunteers.

Religious organizations often have volunteer opportunities.

For those looking for a more substantial time commitment, organizations like the Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity have sophisticated volunteer programs.

For veterans, Team Rubicon is a well regarded organization that relies on volunteers.

Participation in scientific research can also be rewarding and make a huge contribution to medical science.

• Exploring the Effects of Volunteering on the Social, Mental, and Physical Health and Well-being of Volunteers: An Umbrella Review

• Purpose in Life Predicts Better Emotional Recovery from Negative Stimuli

• 7 reasons why volunteering is good for our mental health

• Top 10 Ways Volunteering Improves Your Mental And Emotional Health