VoluntariaMente: the impact of the individual social role on the improvement of mental health

Introduction: Mental health problems are amongst the most common health issues seen worldwide. They are an important cause of morbidity and social isolation. This work aimed to implement an intervention project with people who suffer from anxiety and/or depressive disorder to improve their depression and anxiety scores. Methods: Patients from a Portuguese Family Healthcare Unit medicated with anxiolytics and/or antidepressants, to treat their anxiety and/or depression disorders, were selected and integrated into a volunteering project that lasted a year. Anxiety symptoms were measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and depression scores were quantified by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, both before and after the intervention. Results: Thirty-three participants were selected, and 25 were included in the project. The majority were female, over 50 years old, and performed an average of 48 hours of volunteering. There was a statistically significant reduction in levels of anxiety and/or depression scores after the intervention, regardless of the number of volunteer hours performed. Conclusions: It is suggested that qualified and accompanied volunteer work can help reduce anxiety and depression scores.