Overview
People with disabilities are less satisfied with their health and leisure time than the rest of the population. After leaving institutions, there is a risk of social isolation and psychological effects due to the loss of social networks. This poses a particular challenge for people with cognitive impairments. Volunteering can counteract some of the negative consequences through inclusion and contribute to mental health. Due to the declining number of volunteers, non-profit organizations (NPOs) are looking for volunteers through new approaches. However, the potential of MkB remains untapped.
A participatory approach will be used to develop initial starting points for areas of application of and for MkB. It will be investigated whether this approach has positive effects on the mental health of MkB and leads to destigmatization. A WIN-WIN situation from which NPOs (e.g. increasing the volunteer base), HRDs (e.g. strengthening mental health) and society (e.g. falling healthcare costs) can benefit. The project is intended to lay the foundations for a follow-up project to strengthen the inclusion of MkB and prevent mental illness.
