Helping Youth Help Others

According to research, supporting and helping others has a significant effect on our well-being and our ability to be more resilient. In short, helping others actually makes us feel better and healthier. As we experience extra levels of stress due to the COVID-19 crisis, feeling healthy and the best we can is so important.

While we can’t volunteer in ways that we’ve traditionally done, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t still ways to support our communities. This is especially true for young people who may be struggling with feelings of isolation or disconnectedness.  As caring adults, we can support them in finding ways to give back. Even something as small as writing a letter or calling to check in on someone can help others as well as ourselves.

Check out this article from the New York Times on “The Science of Helping Out.” If you’re looking to support a young person in finding ways they can volunteer or help others during the current crisis situation, Multiplying Good and Youth Service America are great places to start your search!