Society has come a long way with regards to mental health awareness and visibility in recent decades, yet it remains a major social issue. Thirty-nine percent of people are especially concerned about mental health when compared to other social issues, according to Points of Light’s
]. Notably, concern tends to slightly skew toward younger generations, with Gen Z coming at 44%, Millennials at 42% and Gen X at 40%, compared to 31% of Baby Boomers. Women were also more concerned at 44%, compared to 33% of men.
October 10 marks World Mental Health Day, a time to raise awareness about mental health and to mobilize support for those experiencing mental health issues. Every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) organizes a
show that civic engagement is an excellent way to boost your mental health and wellbeing:
Volunteering results in an increase in psychological wellbeing and a decrease in depressive symptoms.
When older adults volunteer, it allows them to participate in meaningful activities and leads to a sense of greater wellbeing.
By engaging in service work, many were able to find and create pockets of connection for themselves and others during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Mental health improvement and civic engagement often go hand in hand,” said Dena Rodriguez-Leach, mental wellness supervision & workforce development program manager of Spark the Change Colorado. “There is evidence showing a strong correlation between volunteering and wellbeing. The benefits include a sense of purpose, social connection, reduced stress and improved self-esteem.”
Take Action for Others, Improve Your Own Wellbeing
When we take action for causes we care about, we don’t just act in service of others, we also receive benefits ourselves – including to our own mental health and wellbeing.
“In engaging with communities through volunteering and other ways, individuals feel a sense of purpose and gratitude, both of which have been scientifically proven to impact the release of oxytocin, which results in feelings of wellbeing, said iVolunteer principal consultant Aarti Madhusudan. “Civic engagement enables the individual to focus externally, [with] energies being invested in the problems of others. Being part of the solution for a problem [affecting] a community that perhaps has less privilege creates greater confidence in one’s own capabilities and resilience. All of these are extremely valuable for positive mental health.”
Interested in volunteering for mental health or other causes? Check out POINTS OF LIGHT ENGAGE® — The World’s Largest Digital Volunteer Network.
Rodriguez-Leach agreed: “Civic engagement provides a sense of purpose for individuals who volunteer and advocate for a particular cause. Research shows that contributing to society’s betterment can
. Being involved in a cause provides a sense of empowerment, improving self-worth and increasing emotional fulfillment and happiness as it allows for personal growth, social connection and a sense of purpose.”
Be a Point of Light for Mental Health
Each of us, regardless of our own mental health status or experiences, can be part of the movement to promote access to quality mental health care for all and to end discrimination based on mental health conditions.
Our
found that 83% of people felt that some of the most influential actions to support mental health are volunteering with a cause or organization in-person or online, and 80% leaned into making a charitable donation to a cause or organization.
“Civic engagement is one way of engaging in those things that are bigger than yourself.”
– Dena Rodriguez-Leach, mental wellness supervision & workforce development program manager, Spark the Change Colorado
Ready to get started on your civic engagement journey? Find opportunities, no matter your age, availability, location or interests.
Civic Engagement Opportunities to Boost Your Mental Health
Points of Light Engage®: The World’s Largest Digital Volunteer Network: Points of Light pulls volunteer opportunities from sites across the web to provide the most comprehensive database of volunteer opportunities around the world. Individuals can search for volunteer projects, nonprofits can post and manage event sign-ups and visitors are invited to start projects of their own – all in one place.
Points of Light Global Network: The Points of Light Global Network accelerates people-driven social impact across 38 countries. Find your local Points of Light affiliate to learn what your community needs.
DIY Volunteer Projects: Access easy DIY volunteer projects that families and individuals of all ages can complete in their spare time such as donating food to essential workers on the job, assembling comfort bags for youth experiencing hardships and building composting bins for greener communities.
Volunteer Advice & Resources: Explore more ways to access service opportunities, support specific causes you care about and strategically amplify your impact.
Leverage These 10 Research-based Facts and Stories of Inspiration to Drive Change
Content Warning: Points of Light is proud to share the following information; however, we acknowledge that these issues may be difficult for some readers. We encourage you to please care for your own well-being above all.
Mental health, COVID-19, gun safety and domestic violence have all come to the forefront of
about overall health. These cause areas affect everyone, from students and employees in workplaces to professional athletes and entertainers to healthcare workers themselves.
When cause areas like these come into focus, equipping social impact professionals and everyday people with research is one impactful way Points of Light can honor our commitment to civic engagement. Research can help you understand the current needs and concerns of people in your community so you can develop an action plan to meet those needs.
Here are 10 research-based facts about mental health, safety and issues related to both, along with stories of everyday people driving change in their communities around these causes. With this compelling research and these inspiring stories, we hope you’ll feel equipped to drive real and sustained change in your own community.
10 Research-Based Facts about Mental Health, Domestic Violence, Gun Safety, and COVID-19
1. Thirty-nine percent of people are concerned about MENTAL HEALTH when compared to other issue areas.
Of the respondents, Gen Z showed the highest concern about mental health issues at 44%, with Millennials following closely at 42%, Gen X at 40% and Baby Boomers at 31%. This generational breakdown may reflect the increase in conversation and education around mental health over the past few decades, becoming a less taboo topic for younger generations.
2. Thirty-five percent of respondents said they have been personally impacted by mental health issues.
Typically, people are most moved to action when they experience the impacts of a specific issue. While this might mean a personal lived experience, often people can access empathy when a loved one has been impacted.
3. Eighty-three percent of people chose to respond to this issue through VOLUNTEERING.
and represents one of the most powerful ways to lend hands-on support for a cause. Nonprofit organizations rely on their volunteers to help drive their missions forward and stretch donor funds as far as possible. When it comes to mental health, respondents said they volunteered their time and talent either by intentionally helping someone else or volunteering with an organization, whether in-person or online.
See how servicewoman Michaela White is advocating for mental health in the military.
4. Fifteen percent of people are concerned about GUN SAFETY when compared to other issue areas.
This statistic reflects a drastically lower level of interest when compared to the broader topic of mental health. This could reflect the fact that fewer people are personally impacted by gun violence when compared to mental health, but it could also reflect the charged political nature of conversations around gun safety. Interestingly, men and women showed equal concern about this issue at 15%.
5. Sixty percent of respondents took the time to learn about gun safety.
is another element of the Civic Circle and, for gun safety, is perhaps the most critical. Learning about a social issue can help educate you about the many nuances rather than having a “blanket” perspective on it. It can also help you make more thoughtful and informed decisions about how to approach solutions. People believe that some of the most helpful actions related to gun safety involve individual effort, like personal education on the issue and
Read about high school student Yating “Tina” Tang who is lifting up the marginalized and combating gun violence through activism and art.
6. Thirty-two percent of women said DOMESTIC VIOLENCE was one of their top areas of concern, compared to 22% of men.
Domestic violence is another cause area with interest being driven by those most commonly affected by the issue – in this case, women. While men are certainly not exempt from domestic violence, women are considerably more likely to experience it. Thirty-four percent of respondents reported that a close friend or family member had been impacted by domestic violence, a statistic that could lend itself to increasing empathy and concern among all people, regardless of gender.
7. Sixty-eight percent of individuals took time to post and share content on their social media channels around the issue of domestic violence, while 63% intentionally helped someone affected by domestic violence.
See how Air Force member Matthew Storer is helping families escaping domestic violence to start anew.
8. Fifty-five percent of people are concerned about COVID-19 when compared to other issue areas.
Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 was one of the top-ranked issue areas in terms of concern. Since the COVID-19 virus, and the ensuing pandemic, affected every single person across the globe, it’s no wonder that many people showed the most interest in this issue.
9. Sixty-three percent of Baby Boomers cited COVID-19 as a top concern.
Since people over the age of 65 are more at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, it is clear why Baby Boomers, among all the generations, would be the most concerned about this issue. In contrast, 49% of Gen Z cited COVID-19 as a top concern, while Millennials and Gen X showed interest at 51% and 58%, respectively.
10. Seventy-nine percent of respondents made a donation to a COVID-related cause or organization.
is another element of the Civic Circle, and encompasses contributions of money, services or goods to a cause. Since the landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic has largely moved from disaster response to recovery, it makes sense that individuals are choosing to donate to organizations responding to the crisis.
Read about public health employee Alyssa Antczak’s efforts to set up mass vaccination clinics and organize COVID-19 testing sites during the pandemic.
Want to keep diving? Take a look at these topics to find out how you can leverage our research to take civic action in your own community:
How to Support Volunteer Engagement at the Intersection of Civic Engagement and Mental Health
What do civic engagement and mental health have in common? Points of Light Chief Growth and Strategy Officer Christine Schoppe and Crisis Text Line Chief Program Officer Becka Ross got together to talk about these two cause areas and how they intersect, starting with an overview of each organization.
Since 1990, Points of Light has acted as a cultural catalyst, working in partnership with
to build a world where it’s impossible to sit on the sidelines. Through its corporate partners and 177 affiliates in 38 countries, the organization has mobilized 5 million volunteers. In recent years, Points of Light has worked to define a
for the 21st century, one that calls on people to give their time, talents and resources to build a brighter future for everyone.
Crisis Text Line began in 2013, hosting more than 7.5 million conversations around mental health since its launch. The organization provides text-based crisis intervention by empowering a community of thousands of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need. The service is offered in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Ireland. It’s free, anonymous and available round-the-clock.
Both organizations have a deep understanding of mobilizing volunteers and a focus on research in their respective cause areas.
Research Shows That Civic Engagement and Mental Health Go Together
“There’s a lot of research out there around the mental health benefits of volunteering combating loneliness in particular,” said Ross. “Volunteers are telling us that they are using their training in their personal lives, too, and it’s improving romantic relationships and work relationships and being able to build the skill of empathy and understand the importance of validating somebody’s perspective”
is open-source, sharing data-informed insights into mental health with other nonprofits, corporate partners, policymakers, media and the general public to raise awareness around mental health issues.
is also shared publicly and shows that four out of 10 people see mental health as a top cause area of concern. This cause area tops a list of more than 20, including poverty and gun rights. These trends, led by Gen Z and
, a framework of nine pathways to civic engagement. These pathways include volunteerism, listening and learning, using your voice and being strategic when choosing where you work.
“The company you work for, and the internal volunteerism you can do there. The resource groups you can join to advocate for your kind of special interest group, you can use your place of employment to express your values and your beliefs,” Schoppe pointed out. “There’s more than one way to get it done.”
In addition to choosing a workplace that supports your values, Points of Light research shows that the two of the most common actions people are taking to advocate for the issues they care about are
. Points of Light research shows that a strong motivator for people when choosing which social issue to champion is having personal experience around that issue. That connection and personal investment is central to strength and longevity of commitment.
Schoppe and Ross touched upon how to find willing volunteers and how to retain and incentivize them to keep up this work. Efforts should reach beyond how meaningful the work itself is.
“Many of our volunteers come to us because they want to make an impact and make a difference in somebody’s life. [Our crisis counselors] are really changing the mental health landscape, reducing stigma, ensuring that people know that it’s okay to reach out for help and get support,” said Ross. “We center our volunteers and their experience.”
Crisis Text Line knows a lot about volunteer engagement with a volunteer base of more than 55,000 people who have gone through a 30-hour virtual training to become crisis counselors. One of first things volunteers are asked to do is create a self-care plan, so they can recharge after a tough shift.
This type of thoughtful method of supporting a volunteer force is essential to sustainability as volunteerism remains one of the most valued pathways to civic engagement. Points of Light research shows that the top three actions people are taking around the issues they care about are:
Schoppe said, “That’s really what drives our research is understanding those goals, and then creating insights and actions with our ecosystem.”
Listen and Learn About the Intersection of Civic Engagement and Mental Health
Watch the entire conversation between Points of Light Chief Growth and Strategy Officer Christine Schoppe and Crisis Text Line Chief Program Officer Becka Ross:
Points of Light Conference Teams Up with Bestselling Authors for Talk on Wellness
Anyone engaged in civic life — especially those who are employed in the nonprofit sector — face the risk of burnout and compassion fatigue. That’s why it’s so critical to consistently and intentionally take care of oneself while helping others. The 2022 Points of Light Conference will explore wellness through an array of featured speakers and special workshops.
Two of our most notable offerings include bestselling author, activist and podcast host Glennon Doyle and bestselling author and television executive Tara Schuster. The duo will be hosting a special Civic Talk titled “Oxygen Masks On! Caring for Ourselves and our Communities.” This session will explore the ways we can care for our mental health and wellness while continuing to lead courageously. We offer inspiration for those driving transformative change who have served on the front lines of social good for the last two years of this global pandemic.
Glennon Doyle is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller “Untamed,” a Reese’s Book Club selection, which has sold over 2 million copies. She is also the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller “Love Warrior,” an Oprah’s Book Club selection, and “Carry On, Warrior.” In her “Untamed Journal,” published November 2021, Glennon helps us each discover our own voice of longing and allows us to reclaim our true, untamed selves. An activist and “patron saint of female empowerment” (People), Glennon is the founder and president of Together Rising, an all-women-led nonprofit organization that has revolutionized grassroots philanthropy, having raised over $30 million for women, families and children in crisis. She hosts the “We Can Do Hard Things” podcast, which debuted as #1 on Apple Podcasts.
Tara Schuster was once best known as the executive in charge of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning show, Key & Peele. Tara turned her struggle with chronic anxiety and depression into a best-selling book and a mission to help others. Her humorous takes on taking charge of one’s mental health, always backed by empowering action steps, have won praise from readers ranging from Wharton professor Adam Grant to Academy Award-winner Anjelica Huston and best-selling author Glennon Doyle. InStyle, People Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Goodreads, BuzzFeed, Goop and many others have chosen her memoir as one of the best books of 2020.
Check our agenda for other workshops with sector experts that address specific issues and strategies around wellness. These conversations will bring inspiring ideas and experiences to the stage and offer deep learning and takeaways from innovative leaders. Join us for these powerful discussions on how to nurture your health and wellness so you can sustain your long-term work that’s making an impact in the sector. If you’re not yet registered, head over to our Points of Light Conference page. We’ll see you July 13-15, 2022!
Ellie LeBlond Sosa Shares How Mental Health Builds Better Communities
To recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, Points of Light connected with Ellie LeBlond Sosa, granddaughter of President George H.W. Bush and Executive Director of Events at BB&R Wellness, to discuss our recent global civic engagement research and the lasting impact the global pandemic has had on the mental health of respondents around the world.
Question:
Why is the area of mental health and well-being a personal and professional passion area for you?
Ellie:
Recently, I have entered a new chapter of life: motherhood. I know I’m not alone when I say that I struggled during pregnancy and postpartum with anxiety and depression. There are so many things to worry about. Add in a complete lack of sleep, and I was left feeling completely drained and not myself. I knew I needed help, so I started therapy for the first time in my life. I was able to work through some of my fears as a new mom and learned the coping mechanisms to use when I felt anxious or sad.
I am also lucky to work for a company, co-founded by my mom Doro Bush Koch, called
. BB&R educates and inspires people to take better care of themselves: mind, body and spirit. Through my work, I have learned the powers of mindfulness and meditation in our overall health and well-being.
asked respondents to share the ways the global pandemic impacted them individually and their community collectively. Globally, “my mental health” and “the mental health of my family” were the third- and fourth-largest impacts. As we head into the third year of this pandemic, how do we support our own mental health and well-being and the well-being of those in our circle for what has been an extended period of stress, isolation and tension?
Ellie:
If you suspect that someone you know is suffering, start by observing behaviors and moods that have changed. Initiate a non-judgmental conversation in a place where they are safe and comfortable. If they are open to talking, do not diagnose anything since you aren’t a doctor. Suggest ways to de-stress, practice self-care and offer to accompany them to the doctor or join them for a conversation with a family member or friend. Of course, if you feel like they are in immediate danger, you should take urgent action to make sure they are safe. If you are experiencing difficulties, talk to someone, and be honest with how you are feeling. Your loved ones want the best for you and will help you if you ask.
Question:
Points of Light’s research on the Millennial generation showed just how personal social issues have become by identifying mental health and wellness as one of their top priorities. This trend diverges from previous generations who don’t identify this as a top area of societal concern. Which role do you think the next generations, both Millennials and Gen Z, can play in moving mental health and wellness from an individual and personal priority to one that society as a whole prioritizes?
Ellie:
The Millennial and Gen Z generations understand that health and wellness are incredibly important for communities to thrive. The first step in making this a top priority for all is de-stigmatization. One in five Americans suffer from some form of mental health issue every day, so why does it still feel taboo to talk about? Although it may be difficult, have an open and honest conversation with your supervisor about mental health and how the company can support their employees. Outside of the workplace, you can start a book club and include books that touch on important mental health topics. Every little bit helps and the more we talk about it, the more we will erase the terrible stigma around mental health.
Question:
At Points of Light, we have observed, and research supports that there is a strong correlation between individuals who engage civically and those with strong physical and mental well-being. From his words and actions, we know that your grandfather, and Points of Light’s founder President George H.W Bush, really believed that compassion, empathy and connectedness were fostered in those who participated in their communities and reached out in support of others. What have you learned from your family and your work that highlights this connection between civic action and overall well-being?
Ellie:
My grandfather taught all of us the importance of serving others. It does not matter whether that’s on a big scale or small scale. What matters is that you do it with love and compassion. There is a phenomenon called, “Helper’s High,” which refers to that feeling you get after helping someone. Endorphins are released into our brain that can decrease pain and increase our mood. Overall, serving others is a win-win.
Question:
At Points of Light, we talk about “listening and learning” being among the most important civic actions someone can take. As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, do you have any favorite thought leaders, books, resources and podcasts that you would recommend that may help to deepen our understanding of mental health and well-being?
Ellie:
In my unbiased opinion, the podcast Health Gig co-hosted by Doro Bush Koch and Tricia Reilly Koch is one of the best resources out there. They have had some incredible guests and offer fantastic weekly guided meditations. For books, “
Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World”
by Dr. Vivek Murthy is fantastic. Dr. Murthy traveled the United States and found loneliness is an underlying cause for many issues: alcohol and drug addiction, violence, anxiety and depression. He offers some thoughtful solutions to help ourselves and those we love create more connected lives. I also recommend “
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World”
by Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams, which shares how they find joy in the face of suffering.
Question:
If you could give just one actionable step someone could take to advance mental health and well-being in their community, what would it be?
Ellie:
Reach out to someone who you’ve been thinking about. Ask if they want to talk or need help with anything. Maybe they haven’t had the courage to ask and this simple question from you will make all the difference for them.
Looking for more mental health resources available online or in your community? Visit
