Young, educated and engaged women

For the eighth consecutive year, the Spanish Mental Health Confederation has published its Volunteer Report . Its latest report offers quantitative and qualitative data on the reality of volunteers participating in the organizations within its network in relation to 2022. The report was compiled with the participation of 268 people from 15 different Autonomous Communities.

The typical volunteer is a young woman, between 18 and 29 years old, with a university degree . The data in this report reveals that:

• Its network of associations maintains a feminized volunteering system: 65% of volunteers are women, compared to 34% men.
• The volume of volunteers aged 18 to 29 has decreased (representing 20% of the total surveyed), and the volume of those aged 50 to 59 has increased (24%).
• Female volunteers tend to be younger than male volunteers: women are usually between 18 and 29 years old, while men are generally between 50 and 59 years old.
• There is a slight downward trend in the participation of people with university studies, and all the people surveyed had some type of education.
• The number of volunteers who have paid employment has increased to 36%, the number of retired people has decreased to 25%, and there are 25% unemployed people.
• There are more women employed and students, while men are usually retired.

Albert Vázquez García

Volunteer. Person affected by Asperger's Syndrome

Fundació Germà Tomàs Canet. Sant Joan de Déu

"I wouldn't trade what volunteering gives me for anything in the world."

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How do you get into volunteering?

People become volunteers through someone they know (23%), because they have their own experience with mental health (23%), or are relatives of someone with mental health issues (22%) . There are also people who volunteer from the social and healthcare sector, students, or professionals (22%).

Among the main reasons for volunteering mentioned by the people surveyed are knowing a person with mental health problems in their close environment, learning (both personally and professionally), wanting to help, or advocating for the rights of this group, among others.

The majority of volunteers in the Spanish Mental Health association movement (77%) participate in activities and programs aimed at people with mental health problems (leisure and free time activities, awareness campaigns, and training). They also participate in supporting professionals in mental health organizations, awareness campaigns, and other activities aimed at families.

According to the report, there appears to be a renewal effect among the pool of volunteers in these organizations (the percentage of people who have been volunteering for less than six months has increased from 18% in 2021 to 28% in 2022), possibly due to more effective recruitment campaigns. Additionally, 24% of volunteers have been volunteering for more than five years.

Recommendations for the well-being of the volunteer

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It is important to note that these people are very satisfied with their participation as volunteers and 99% of them would recommend it (or have already recommended it) to other people.

However, those surveyed also highlighted aspects of volunteering that should be improved, such as better activity planning, more supervision and training, more resources, and the opportunity to participate in the organization's decision-making. Mental Health Spain's report outlines a series of best practices to support volunteers in their work. These include:

• Prepare a volunteer contract that outlines the commitment, rights and duties of both parties, the functions and frequency of volunteering, etc.
• The volunteer will be trained by the organization in mental health and the fight against stigma, among other subjects, and will have a designated contact person to assist them upon arrival and support them in their work as a volunteer.
• It is essential that the person shares principles such as respect, equality, inclusion, solidarity, empathy and the promotion of the rights of people with mental health problems.
• Volunteering should take place in safe environments where volunteers can express their needs, expectations, and doubts, and these can be addressed by the team of professionals.
• The value of volunteering (both formal and informal) must be recognized and its continuity within the organization ensured. Volunteering activities shared with other organizations in the area benefit both the volunteers and the beneficiaries of the activities.
• Outreach, publicity, and political advocacy campaigns are very important for recruiting new volunteers, as well as for retaining them.

Regarding people with their own experience , the report emphasizes the importance of their being able to actively participate in volunteer programs.

• By participating and welcoming volunteers, fostering empathy and social skills, with a friendly and open approach.
• They receive appropriate training to participate in other programs, develop outreach and dissemination activities, and even provide volunteer training. They are the most suitable people to train volunteers in mental health aspects, with the support they may need from the professional team.
• Participating in the creation of the aforementioned safe spaces, and collaborating continuously with professional teams and volunteers.