How helping others helps you

Helping your neighbor carry their groceries in the house is clearly good for them. But did you know that it’s likely good for you, too?

Research shows that those who consistently help other people experience better mood, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. They may even live longer.

In this article:

Kindness and the brain

Hints on helping

Finding yourself through helping others

Ways to volunteer

MHA resources

Kindness and the brain

We don’t only receive “thank yous” from others when we are kind. Our brains reward us when we lend a helping hand, too.

Our brain releases feel-good chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin when we help others. These chemicals influence our mood, memory, resilience, and more. The sense of pleasure and well-being we receive from these chemicals motivates us to continue seeking them out. This often leads to a natural cycle of more acts of kindness and more positive feelings.

Hints on helping

Consider these tips for helping others—and yourself:

• Don’t feel like you have to make grand gestures or huge time commitments. Sure, helping can mean serving meals at a homeless shelter. But it also can mean:
  • Calling a friend to see how they’re doing
  • Bringing a loved one a snack
  • Letting a car in front of you on the highway
  • Smiling at a stranger
  • Holding the elevator door for your coworker
• Making your “random” acts of kindness consistent can also help you and the people around you. Try doing one small thing on a regular basis to make someone else’s life better. For example, you could donate a small amount to an animal shelter each month or call a friend every Saturday.
• Beware of taking on too much, or you’ll risk feeling resentful. When asked a favor, think it over before saying yes. Be sure to take care of yourself as you take care of others.

Finding yourself through helping others

Sometimes, we can feel lost in life. We may not know what direction to go in or may be coping with a major change. If you’re feeling off, doing good can make you feel more grounded. It might…

• remind you that you’re relatively lucky
• make you feel connected to others
• help you feel needed and effective
• take your mind off your own worries for a while
• make you feel generous
• add a sense of purpose and meaning to your life

Supporting others can help you connect with your community. It can also help you identify your skills and passions, which may give you the sense of direction you are looking for.

Ways to volunteer

If you want to volunteer for an organization, invest in finding the right match. If you like to:

• read… consider volunteering at a school or tutoring program
• work outdoors… try volunteering to clean up a local park
• speak another language…. perhaps offer to act as a translator
• work at home… make fundraising calls
• play sports… volunteer as a coach
• promote health… try a local hospital or clinic

Whatever you choose, ask if the group will provide support for your efforts, like training, or someone you can reach out to if you have questions.

To find volunteer opportunities, search online for your local volunteer center or visit volunteermatch.org. You can also contact your local Mental Health America affiliate to see if they are looking for volunteers.

MHA resources

• Advocating for better community spaces
• 10 ways to volunteer your time for mental health (Blog)
• Exploring connection to something outside of ourselves
• Get involved
• How can I be OK when the world is terrible?
• How can we engage our employees in volunteerism?
• How do I find myself again in recovery?
• Meaningful work and recovery
• Take care of your spirit

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If you or a friend are struggling with your mental health, take an anonymous, free, and private mental health test. It only takes a few minutes, and after you are finished, you will be given information about the next steps you can take based on the results.

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