Answering the Call: Connections Between Volunteerism and Mental Health
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Freshmen
Institution 25-26
Western Kentucky University
KY House District #
20
KY Senate District #
32
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Ritchie Taylor, PhD.; Kim Link, DNP, APRN
Department
Public Health; School of Nursing
Abstract
Introduction: Rates of depression and self-harm have increased over the last 5 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 5 adults is experiencing mental illness. Depression rates have increased by 60% and emergency room visits due to self-harm and suicidal ideation have increased by 40% within the past decade. While multiple factors contribute to this negative shift in mental health, declined civic engagement and reduced connection to the community have emerged as potential contributing factors. Since the 2010s, formal volunteering has steadily declined, yet research has shown that those who volunteer regularly report lower rates of depression and an overall greater sense of well-being. Fire departments across the U.S., have experienced a significant drop in volunteers from 898,000 in 1984 to 677,000 in 2020. This highlights a mutually beneficial opportunity because volunteer fire departments need engaged members, and individuals may experience improved well-being by participating in meaningful service roles.
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to explore how civic engagement, and volunteerism may improve mental-health outcomes. The project examined the fire service as a model of community-based volunteerism and utilized firefighter narratives to highlight the benefits of community service and engagement.
Methods: Researchers interviewed 10 firefighters regarding their motivations for joining the fire service, benefits to serving the community, and what they believe community members should know about their service role. Interviews were then written into short stories and accompanied by a portrait of the interviewee. These stories and portraits were displayed at an event where community members viewed and reflected upon how the stories impacted them. Event attendees were asked questions related to past volunteerism, impact of past volunteerism on health, awareness of connection between volunteerism and health, and the impact of the exhibit on future intention to volunteer.
Answering the Call: Connections Between Volunteerism and Mental Health
Introduction: Rates of depression and self-harm have increased over the last 5 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 5 adults is experiencing mental illness. Depression rates have increased by 60% and emergency room visits due to self-harm and suicidal ideation have increased by 40% within the past decade. While multiple factors contribute to this negative shift in mental health, declined civic engagement and reduced connection to the community have emerged as potential contributing factors. Since the 2010s, formal volunteering has steadily declined, yet research has shown that those who volunteer regularly report lower rates of depression and an overall greater sense of well-being. Fire departments across the U.S., have experienced a significant drop in volunteers from 898,000 in 1984 to 677,000 in 2020. This highlights a mutually beneficial opportunity because volunteer fire departments need engaged members, and individuals may experience improved well-being by participating in meaningful service roles.
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to explore how civic engagement, and volunteerism may improve mental-health outcomes. The project examined the fire service as a model of community-based volunteerism and utilized firefighter narratives to highlight the benefits of community service and engagement.
Methods: Researchers interviewed 10 firefighters regarding their motivations for joining the fire service, benefits to serving the community, and what they believe community members should know about their service role. Interviews were then written into short stories and accompanied by a portrait of the interviewee. These stories and portraits were displayed at an event where community members viewed and reflected upon how the stories impacted them. Event attendees were asked questions related to past volunteerism, impact of past volunteerism on health, awareness of connection between volunteerism and health, and the impact of the exhibit on future intention to volunteer.