1. Volunteering Improves Your Mental Health?
True of False?

2. Some Evidence: Doing Good Does You Good
Looks more broadly than volunteering, includes mentoring, doing something for a good cause and random acts of kindness.
How?
Promotes physiological change in the brain associated with happiness
Provides a sense of belonging being part of a social network
Helps put things in proportion - 'other people less fortunate'
Making the world a happier place
Develops a 'kindness bank' of memories to draw upon

3. More Evidence
Citizens' Advice Study from 2014  /corporate/value-volunteering-may-14.pdf 
Found that:
80% of volunteers believed volunteering had a positive effect on their mental health
60% felt less stressed
For people who had a diagnosed mental heath condition 75% felt that they were able to manage it better

4. And More...
Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind Volunteer Evaluation of over 40 volunteers in 2017 found that:
89% of volunteers felt more positive about themselves
85% had improved confidence
85% felt more socially connected
85% said volunteering helped them recognise their skills and abilities
68% say that it's given them the opportunity to a difference
77% reported improvements in mental health
69% had improved resilience
63% felt less isolated

5. It also fits with the 5 Ways to Well-Being

6. But...
Thinking more about people with mental health problems?  How does volunteering work for them?
Or for people with more complex needs?
Does volunteering work well for people who have little previous experience of volunteering or work?
What if someone has had a poor volunteering experience in the past?
For some people volunteering can be a bit more challenging and the outcome is more uncertain.

7. What do we need to think about here?
What are the barriers to volunteering?
Anxiety?
Confidence?
Fear about letting someone down?
Why is this particularly difficult for people with mental health problems?
The above points are often magnified, some of the things people have told us:
'Had become very isolated and anti social'
'Stigma about mental health, what people might think of me'
'Worried about being in a group'
'Trust is a big issue for me'

8. What could we do to help people with mental health problems?
What could we do to help individuals and organisations?
Pre volunteering course
Mentoring/buddying
Mental health awareness training for organisations
Sharing our experiences – e.g. how to talk to people about their mental health support needs before the volunteering starts
Stronger relationships between organisations to support this

9. Why this is so important.
For many people it is a valid pathway to better/improved mental health, an alternative or complement to more traditional interventions e.g. therapy and counselling
If done right it could help local voluntary sector organisations get the volunteers they need
Improves social cohesion in Stockton
Builds skills
Promotes a more positive view of mental health

10. Introducing Steven!