Youth volunteerism in mental health and its challenges.

Abstract

Throughout history, issues regarding mental illnesses have been considered taboo and individuals suffering from mental disorders are frequently subjects of stigmatization. In Singapore, Voluntary Welfare Organizations (VWOs) often face difficulties during the process of combating stigma and rehabilitating recovered patients. Also, even with increasing national volunteerism rates, these organizations find it difficult to attract volunteers.

As such, this research aims to explore challenges faced by volunteers in mental health (more specifically youth volunteers) through one-to-one in-depth interviews. Using our findings, this paper then examines two negative impacts of stigma on mental health volunteerism. First of all, volunteers often find it difficult to approach and engage mental health patients. This is due to pre-existing stereotypes, which often portrays them as abnormal or violent individuals. Next, stigma also makes it undesirable to associate with mental health patients and membership in related organizations becomes undesirable. This eventually becomes an obstacle which deters volunteerism in that sector.