If you’re a volunteer, you’re not just helping someone else.  You’re improving your mental health at the same time.

Paula Allen with Telus Health, outlines some of the benefits volunteering provides to our mental health.

“When you think about volunteering, we are typically relating with other people like you are part of a group. You feel a sense of purpose, you are being helpful, you’re not feeling as isolated and you have that sense of purpose and grounding. All of these things are helpful to our mental wellbeing.”

The latest monthly Mental Health Index survey from Telus Health shows that workers who donate either their time or money to a cause, had better mental health and optimism scores.

Those translated into higher productivity at work and more positive impressions of their employer, especially if they were allowed work time to volunteer.

For more on volunteering and its impact on mental health, tune in to Thompson Today this afternoon at 12:40 and 5:10.