Mentoring is a rewarding way to engage with and support the youth in your community. Mentoring offers a long list of benefits, both for the mentor and the mentee. One of the main benefits is the positive impact mentoring has on youth mental health. According to Youth.Gov, young people who have a mentor experience increased high school graduation rates, better interpersonal skills, higher self-esteem and self-confidence, and more. So if you want to make an impact on the well-being of youth in your community, volunteer opportunities in Utah with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah allow you to do this.
What Makes a Good Mentor
Author Simon Sinek once said, “A mentor is not someone who walks ahead of us to show us how they did it. A mentor walks alongside us to show us what we can do.”
There are many ways to be a good mentor. But, at the heart of it, mentoring is all about setting appropriate expectations and supporting your mentee so they can achieve more than they might have thought was possible. Finding a structured formal mentoring program like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah is an excellent place to get started.
Mentoring Impact on Youth Mental Health
A study published by Mentoring Canada states that young people who had a mentor growing up are 53% more likely to experience positive mental health than those who did not. The study also says that those who have a mentor growing up are more likely to feel a sense of belonging and optimism for the future. The study concludes that mentoring needs to be ” integrated into the continuum of mental health care.”
Where to Find Volunteer Opportunities in Utah
When you’re looking for volunteer opportunities in Utah, you can’t go wrong with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah. With BBBSU’s one-to-one mentoring model, you can help empower the kids in your neighborhood. BBBSU has been matching mentors with mentees in Utah for over 40 years. To learn more about volunteer opportunities in Utah and get started on your mentor journey, visit the BBBSU website today.
