Benefits of Volunteering for brain and nervous system health

The connection between volunteering, and brain and nervous system health

1 in 3 West Australians have a neurological condition.

These neurological conditions affect the brain, spinal cord and nervous system and are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Many brain diseases are preventable, and through education, advocacy and informed policy, and service development, the health and economic impacts of neurological conditions on individuals and society can be significantly reduced.

“Neurological conditions affect the brain and nervous system and are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. These conditions include stroke, migraine, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, motor neurone disease, meningitis, functional neurological disorder and brain injury, as well as over 600 rare and genetic conditions as varied as Huntington’s and muscular dystrophy.”

Importance of ‘excercising’ your brain

The aging process typically begins to impact the brain before 40, when cognitive abilities such as processing speed and memory start to decline. However, there are a number of things you can do to slow this process and keep your brain in shape for years afterwards.

The more that you take care of your body and ‘exercise’ your brain, the more you can slow down the aging process (1). In normal aging (without diseases such as dementia), your cognitive abilities decrease due to the loss of connective structures called synapses. Just like any other muscle, these connections need to be used and challenged in order to stay strong.

Examples of activities that support brain and nervous system health

Regular physical activity and movement.
Challenging your brain by learning, and exposure to new things – a new skill, sport, or tool.
Tools to manage stress and depression.
Maintaining social connections and a positive mindset.
Games and clubs that involve memory such as bridge or strategically thinking ahead chess.

Brain Foundation Neurological Council of WA

Through volunteering, people can find meaning, purpose, movement and an opportunity to feel valued

Volunteering can be powerful

Volunteering is powerful, it helps people learn new skills, find purpose and meaning, be advocates, be advocated for.

Volunteering can be a fun and meaningful mechanism for physical movement, challenging the brain, learn new skills, using your skills, meeting new people, find connection and purpose.

With the benefits of social prescribing now widely known, many healthcare professionals and organisations support the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) call for its formal inclusion in national long-term healthcare plans and standard primary care.

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Volunteering is donating your time to a cause.
It could be formally through an organisation, and have a role description, responsibilities, and line managers.
It could be informal through cleaning up your local park, supporting neighbours, or helping through your church or mosque.
It might be spontaneous, so just providing extra hands following a natural disaster.
It might be online, like moderating Reddit forums, Facebook groups, or meet ups.
It could be solo and done remotely.
It might be in a group with your friends, family or teammates.
It might be regular and last a year, like walking an elderly person’s dog, or volunteering in in the op shop, or being a mentor.

Wheelchairs for Kids Volunteers

Brother Thomas Oliver (Olly) Pickett AM co-founded Wheelchairs For Kids in 1996 to provide adjustable wheelchairs and occupational therapy expertise for children in developing countries, free of charge.

Since then, more than 60,000 custom-built wheelchairs have been gifted to children in over 80 countries.

As the Volunteer Factory Manager, Olly oversees over 250 retiree workshop volunteers.

Olly’s 250 volunteers are almost all retirees, they meet weekly (sometimes daily) and are using their fine motor skills to build wheelchairs, they’re moving their bodies in functional ways, they’re learning new things when they help at a different stage in the build, they’re connecting over morning tea, and get to feel the benefits of the positive impact they’re making.

The average age of Olly’s 250 workshop volunteers is 74!

Volunteering for young people

Western Australia’s young people are setting the bar high, with 78.2% of them giving back to their community through volunteering.

The Australian Institute of Family Studies “Growing Up in Australia: A Longitudinal Study of Children” Report showed:

Volunteering protects against poor mental health in teenagers.
If a child is involved in volunteering before the age of 13, the odds of having poor mental health are reduced by around 28%.

The volunteering can take many forms, such as helping at a local community sports club, participating in a community working bee, or more formal volunteering with a charity or church group.

Volunteering is one way for children to develop their prosocial skills as it provides the opportunity to care for others, show kindness and learn to take on others’ perspectives.