Our Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, has had a few worried leaders of volunteers contact him following recent publicity about mental health. As a result, his planned blog has been shelved, and he offers a few thoughts on mental health and volunteering.
Mental health has been back in the news over the past couple of weeks following the BBC Panorama programme about the tragic events in Nottingham in June 2023. This has understandably raised concerns among some volunteer leaders about whether they should involve individuals using mental health services as volunteers.
My response is always that involving mental health service users in volunteering can bring significant benefits for the organisation as well as for the volunteer, but it also presents challenges that organisations must carefully navigate.
Let’s summarise some of the main advantages and challenges.
Advantages of involving mental health service users as volunteers
Empowerment and recovery
Volunteering can be highly beneficial for mental health service users, fostering a sense of purpose, improving self-esteem, and contributing positively to their recovery journey. Engaging in meaningful activities can provide a sense of accomplishment and help combat feelings of isolation, a common issue among those with mental health conditions.
Skill development
Volunteering offers mental health service users the opportunity to develop new skills or refresh existing ones, which can be valuable for future employment opportunities. It can also help them build social networks and integrate more fully into the community.
Perspective and empathy
Service users can bring valuable lived experience to their volunteer roles, particularly in organisations focused on mental health. Their insights can enhance the support provided to others, contributing to a more empathetic and effective service.
Challenges in involving mental health service users as volunteers
Risk management
Involving mental health service users in volunteering necessitates thorough risk assessments. The unpredictable nature of some mental health conditions may present challenges in ensuring the safety and well-being of both the volunteers and those they serve. Organisations must be vigilant in monitoring and supporting volunteers to manage any potential risks.
Resource intensive
Supporting volunteers with mental health issues can require significant resources. This includes providing additional training for staff, offering tailored support, and possibly adjusting roles to accommodate the volunteer's needs. Balancing these requirements with the organisation's primary aims and mission can be challenging, particularly for smaller charities or non-profits with limited resources.
Potential for role conflict
There can be tensions between the goals of the organisation and the needs of the volunteer. For instance, an organisation’s mission might demand a certain level of reliability and output from volunteers, which may conflict with the fluctuating mental health of a service user volunteer. Managing these tensions requires sensitivity and flexibility, and there is a risk that either the volunteer or the organisation’s objectives may be compromised.
You might find this helpful
You can get a wealth of information and advice for people who need support with their mental health or for people who are supporting someone else from Mind.
Conclusion
One of the cornerstones of my work is 'putting the volunteer at the centre of volunteering' and I believe that leaders of volunteers do this very well while also putting their organisation’s aims and mission at the heart of their volunteer programme.
When we involve any volunteer, we always have that fine balance to manage. Some volunteers have more support needs than others, so in every instance, we treat potential volunteers as individuals and make judgements about whether the relationship will work.
While involving mental health service users in volunteering can benefit both the individual and the organisation, it does require careful consideration of risks and resource allocation. In the present high-profile media spotlight, we must balance supporting volunteers with delivering on their core mission, ensuring that the involvement of mental health service users is both meaningful and sustainable.
As always, I welcome your thoughts on the subject. You can reach me by email at davet@nottinghamcvs.co.uk.
