Table 1 Summary of papers included in the systematic review
From: Volunteering in the care of people with severe mental illness: a 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 |