Written by Gerry Foo and the Mentoring Committee Marketing and Communications (McMc) Team
At the January Mentoring Committee Open House, we had the great pleasure of hosting a guest speaker, Dr. Gerry Foo, to talk about the psychological benefits of mentoring and volunteer work. We want to thank Gerry for generously sharing his perspectives through this blog reflection.
Dr. Gerry Foo is a Senior Research Development Specialist at Tufts University. Prior to this, he spent almost two decades as a clinical psychologist providing consultation to families, schools, clinics, and hospitals. Gerry recently transitioned to this role in research development to leverage his extensive background and experience in psychology to effectively consult with teams of investigators to improve strategy to secure funding for their research.
Speaker Reflection
Written by Dr. Gerry Foo
With January being National Mentoring Month, I could think of no better time to share all the benefits you can get from being a mentor or a volunteer. In particular, there are specific psychological benefits that you can receive by serving as a mentor in the Mentoring Program or a volunteer for the Mentoring Committee.
If you’ve ever considered becoming a mentor for the Mentoring Program, I encourage you to learn more about the program and how it can be mutually beneficial to both the mentor and mentee. For example, research has shown that serving as a mentor helps you:
- Gain perspective and improve problem-solving in your own work
- Grow leadership capacity
- Gain confidence in your knowledge/skills
- Feel connected to a supportive community
- Gain a sense of meaning in your work
In addition, a recent study by the University of Cambridge found that mentoring reduced anxiety/stress and improved mental health for both mentors and mentees, and that sharing one’s own knowledge and experience allowed mentors to feel greater appreciation, satisfaction, and purpose (Gill et al., 2018). Similarly, a recent meta-analysis of the effects of volunteering revealed wide-ranging and long-lasting personal benefits for volunteers, including improved general health, quality of life, psychological well-being, pride and empowerment, motivation, self-efficacy, positive affect, sense of connectedness, and purpose (Nichol et al., 2024).
However, some of us might hesitate to volunteer because of these thoughts:
- “I don’t have enough time.”
- “The meeting times don’t fit my schedule.”
- “I have nothing to contribute.”
- “I don’t want to make an ongoing commitment.”
- “I’m not good at the kind of work that goes on in the Mentoring Committee.”
Similarly, some of us might be reluctant to mentor because of these ideas:
- “I don’t know what to expect.”
- “What if my mentee and I don’t mesh well?”
- “I’m already a mentee; I can’t do both, can I?”
These statements are all understandable reasons why becoming a mentor or a volunteer right now might feel like a challenge. In fact, many (if not all) of us who volunteer have had some of these same reasons as we weighed the pros and cons of becoming a mentor or a volunteer. Yet, despite these doubts, we can all make the effort to adjust our busy schedules and give even just a bit of our time as we learn more about the benefits of serving others.
The Mentoring Committee is a diverse and fun group of NORDP members who rely on and support each other, and each of us has found a way to contribute to its mission in our own unique and creative ways. If you’ve ever considered joining the Mentoring Committee, I encourage you to reach out to learn more about how you can help by giving even just a bit of your time. Find out more about the Mentoring Committee by contacting mentorprogram@nordp.org.
References:
Nichol, B., Wilson, R., Rodrigues, A. et al. Exploring the Effects of Volunteering on the Social, Mental, and Physical Health and Well-being of Volunteers: An Umbrella Review. Voluntas 35, 97–128 (2024).
Michael J. Gill et al. ‘Mentoring for mental health: A mixed-method study of the benefits of formal mentoring programmes in the English police force.’ Journal Of Vocational Behavior (2018).
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