This week is the 65th Annual Mental Health Week (#MHW2016) hosted by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). Their GETLOUD campaign encourages you to share how you are getting loud on their website, get social using the hashtag #GetLoud, wear green, and much more!
While posing for a picture to support #MHW2016, I remembered a conversation that I had with leaders of community associations in the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. They all wondered how to prevent burnt out in volunteers! Stress from volunteering is a mental health concern, too!
So, the timing of Mental Health Week couldn’t be more perfect! My family would be the first to admit that I am not the best at protecting my mental wellness, especially when I am in the middle of exciting volunteering projects, etc. For example, when I should have been in bed sleeping, I was drafting notes for this blog. Sound familiar, anyone?
So, I encourage all volunteers to visit CMHA’s website to learn more about mental well-being and check out their great resources:
- Mental Fitness Tips
- Mental Health Meter
- Stress
- What’s Your Stress Index?
- Work-Life Balance
What strategies do you use to protect your mental well-being when volunteering? I’d love to hear your stories. Please email me at volunteerpg@telus.net or share on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerPG #volunteerpg #GetLoud.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a trained health professional.
