Volunteer befriending as an intervention for depression

Journal Title: Bereavement Care
Journal Issue: 25 (2); pp27-30

Summary: Many episodes of major depression disorder are preceded by severe loss experience. In researching the influence of life events on mental health, the author identified factors which seemed to foster resilience to depression. On the basis of these findings, an intervention involving volunteer befriending with two groups of women was set up, to see if it could prevent depression and aid recovery. Though only a few of the women in the project had been bereaved, the study highlights some of the positive effects of befriending for those planning bereavement care services.

• Print this page
•