Mental health barrier’ preventing young people from volunteering

Many young people are being blocked from volunteering due to concerns over their mental health, a government-commissioned report has found.

The Institute for Community Studies’ rapid evidence review found that 11-to-30-year-olds faced a “triple burden” when trying to balance volunteering with their work, family life and mental health. More than one in five regular volunteers that responded to the research said they had experienced burnout, while even those that did not frequently volunteer reported that their awareness of social issues and feelings of helplessness acted as a barrier. Young people also reported feeling guilty when they felt unable to volunteer due to feeling overwhelmed by other factors in their life. See more at: The Civil Society