Table 1.
Summary of papers included in the systematic review
| Country | Year | Study design | Number of volunteers interviewed | Volunteer age | Volunteer gender (%) | Type of volunteering§ | Type of mental health population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany
[32] |
1995 |
Large opinion survey of general public in Old and New Länder |
9 of 1005 interviewed in Old Länder were volunteers. 13 of 2089 in New Länder were volunteers.N = 22 |
No detail |
No detail |
Mixed* |
Chronically mentally ill |
| Germany
[33] |
1994 |
Large opinion survey of general public in New Länder only |
13 |
No detail |
No detail |
Mixed* |
Chronically mentally ill |
| Germany
[30] |
1996 |
Large opinion survey of volunteers of 452 services in one German region |
330 out of 898 responded to the survey (Response rate 37%) |
68 · 5% over 50. Only 10% under 40 |
M (17 · 3) F (82 · 7) |
Mixed* |
Psychiatric patients |
| Germany
[31] |
1990 |
Small questionnaire study |
13 |
(21–27) |
‘Mostly female’ |
Befriending |
Chronically mentally ill |
| Switzerland
[34] |
2000 |
Large opinion survey of general public in Switzerland |
106 of the 1737 interviewed were volunteers |
(16–76) ‘Older people more likely to commit to volunteering’ |
M (38), F (62) |
‘In a mental health setting’ |
General mental health context |
| UK
[21] |
2010 |
Naturalistic study, service evaluation |
12 |
44 (25–64) |
M (25), F (75) |
Counselling |
Mental health problems - outpatients |
| UK
[22] |
1998 |
Naturalistic study, review of service |
6 |
36 · 6 (23–48) |
M (33 · 3) F (66 · 6) |
Befriending |
Alcohol addicts - outpatients |
| UK
[23] |
1989 |
Naturalistic study, description of service |
30 |
(18–59) |
M (26 · 6) F (73 · 3) |
Befriending |
Isolated and lonely users of outpatient psychiatric services. Diagnoses: Schizophrenia, manic depressive psychosis, depressive neurosis, anxiety states, dependent personality disorder. |
| UK
[24] |
2003 |
Naturalistic study, profile of service |
No detail |
No detail |
No detail |
Befriending |
Socially isolated outpatients experiencing long standing mental health problems. 36% Have depression, 10% dual diagnosis, 54% misc (schizophrenia, manic-depression, anxiety, isolation, and long term-mental health problems). |
| UK
[25] |
2003 |
Naturalistic study, profile of service |
No detail |
20s as all undergraduates/graduates |
‘Problems recruiting enough male volunteers’ |
Befriending |
People who are considered to have enduring or severe/complex mental health problems. 70% of the 450 known to the service have schizophrenia. |
| UK
[27] |
2011 |
Small questionnaire study |
8 |
50 (29–65) |
M (75) F (25) |
Befriending |
Adults (outpatients) who find it difficult to form and sustain friendships as a result of moderate to severe mental health problems. |
| USA
[26] |
1973 |
Description of the volunteer ‘Case Aid’ program |
No detail |
No detail |
No detail |
‘Case Aid’ volunteering |
Mental health inpatients and outpatients. Most diagnosed with schizophrenia. |
| USA
[29] |
2009 |
Naturalistic study, service evaluation |
12 |
Unclear. All but 1 participant estimated to be over 30, some of retirement age |
M (33 · 3) F (66 · 6) |
Befriending |
People with severe mental illness (outpatients). Specific psychiatric diagnoses were not obtained |
| USA [28] | 1967 | Naturalistic study, single volunteer experience | 1 | No detail | F (100) | Member of a hospital psychiatric consultation team | Psychiatric inpatients |
*Mixed = A range of volunteering services are described in the paper.
§Type of volunteering = Rough equivalent of volunteer activity described by the paper. See individual papers for more detailed information.
Total (N) = 540 (22 + 330 + 13 + 106 + 12 + 6 + 30 + 8 + 12 + 1).