Sharing is self-caring: United Way says getting together to give back can boost your happiness
Posted October 8, 2019 6:29 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Thanksgiving is about gratitude and generosity, but the holiday can also highlight the issue of social isolation.
According to a recent poll by Research Co. for United Way, almost half of British Columbians — 46 per cent — reported feeling lonely.
“We know social isolation is a growing problem in our communities, and we’ve all felt lonely at different times in our lives,” United Way’s Jennifer Marshall said.
More than a third of people living in British Columbia, or 38 per cent, reported feeling isolated from others in their community, while 41 per cent of British Columbians surveyed said they felt they didn’t have many people to talk to living nearby.
Feel lonely? Group up and give back: a new survey from @UWLM shows those who volunteer together find meaning and community. People who say they volunteer with others are more likely to say they feel like they're a "part of something meaningful." on @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/9QCpT1eSEa
— Ash Kelly she/her (settler) (@AshDKelly) October 8, 2019
But there is some good news if you’re one of the many who reported feeling a little down — it turns out you may be in good company.
According to the organization, sharing, volunteering, and giving back to charity are actually pretty good antidotes for the solo-struggle.
Many of the survey respondents said they felt a lot better after giving back. Meantime, British Columbians surveyed said that giving to charity was about 10 per cent more meaningful when they did it as part of a group campaign. Volunteering, according to results, is 21 per cent more meaningful when you do it with other people you know.
Survey results:
Better_Together_Research_Factum_UWLM_01Oct2019