Blog  December 13, 2011

Giving the gift of your time

Volunteers at a planting event in Markham, ON

By: Melissa Lem

As the festive season approaches, many of us are busy trying to find the perfect present for that special someone. What if you were able to come up with a gift that was not only free, but also had far-reaching benefits for your community and even your own health? The answer is simple: give the gift of your time!

Studies reveal that youth experience significant psychological benefits from volunteering. Teenagers display higher self-esteem, fewer problem behaviours, better work ethic and more empathy towards others. What’s more, youth who volunteer are almost three times as likely to believe they can personally make a difference in their community.

The health advantages of altruism are even more striking in older adults. In general, volunteers enjoy better physical health and increased life satisfaction. Research shows that chronic pain and heart attack patients exhibit decreased levels of depression and disability when they serve as volunteers. Volunteering also strengthens social networks, buffering stress and reducing risk of disease. Astonishingly, one 1999 study demonstrated that high levels of volunteering conferred a 44 percent lower mortality risk over five years to adults over 55.

Even more evidence indicates that environmental or nature-based volunteerism is particularly beneficial. A 2005 study showed that while volunteers were 1.8 times more likely than non-volunteers to meet US physical activity guidelines, environmental volunteers were 2.6 times more likely. Also, nature is a proven “social magnet” that encourages even greater enhancement of interpersonal connections and mental health. Doing a good deed has never sounded like a better deal.

This month, and in the year that follows, get involved with some of the many volunteer organizations that make our cities such vibrant and livable places. Consider volunteering with an environmental charity like Evergreen. It’s the gift that keeps on giving—to your community, and to yourself!

A member of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Melissa Lem is a Toronto family doctor who also works in rural and remote communities across Canada.