Comparing the views of mental health professionals and volunteers on volunteering in mental health care in the UK

Abstract

Voluntary schemes can serve to address reduced social functioning experienced by people with mental illness. However, the views of the key stakeholders in such provision remains under-researched.This article aimed to compare the views of mental health professionals and volunteers on volunteering in mental health care in the UK through a qualitative study analysing the data of six focus groups with n = 27 participants using thematic analysis.Six overarching themes were identified: (i) An act of friendship but not a true friendship, (ii) Addressing a social agenda, (iii) Structure and responsibility of volunteering schemes, (iv) Challenges of volunteering (v) Role of technology in volunteering and (vi) Impact on wider mental health care. Whilst various commonalities were identified, nuances in participants views suggest stakeholders may place differing levels of importance on the volunteering framework.Volunteering as a social intervention for people with mental illness was deemed to hold significant importance in wider mental health care. The divergent views expressed between stakeholders can be attributed to their own direct experiences with patients in practice and suggests there is a need for flexibility in the design and delivery of voluntary programmes.