Professionals from the UW Faculty of Psychology have prepared a series of video presentations that describe methods of reasonable support and adequate assistance to avoid excessive physical, psychological and financial burden experienced by volunteers. The videos under the title “POMOC” (“Help”, in English) are in the Polish language, but they have subtitles in English to be used by non-Polish speakers as well.

“Volunteers are driven by passion. They are eager to help where few people can handle it. Volunteering requires a fearless attitude in harsh realities of the world. It is necessary to show volunteers methods of adequate and effective work that spare their psychological reservoir. We intend to support them as much as possible, and help them diminish the trauma they might come face-to-face,” says Dr Szymon Chrząstowski, the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Warsaw.

Good for the heart is good for the mind

“Volunteering comes from the heart but can drain your mind too. Your mind and body must be interconnected and interdependent. What does is it mean to help reasonably, and when you should come to a stop and rethink your work?,” says Dr Szymon Chrząstowski, the Department of Clinical Child and Family Psychology at the UW Faculty of Psychology.

The limits of volunteering

Helping is not an easy task. Before supporting others it is recommended to consider both limits and expectations. Anna Cierpka, an assistant professor of psychology at the Department of Developmental Psychology, the UW Faculty of Psychology, is explaining the meaning of limits in volunteering.

Adult help for children

How can Ukrainian children be helped in Poland? Professor Grażyna Kmita, the Department of Clinical Child and Family Psychology at the UW Faculty of Psychology, is talking about methods of providing support to children, normalising their well-being, as well as is discussing benefits children and adults can get from playing.

Tackling volunteer burnout

Volunteer burnout is just like work-related burnout. Overwhelming physical activities and over-committing can cause emotional exhaustion, stress and disengagement. The methods of maintaining the energy and desire to honour the commitments  are discussed by Professor Paweł Holas from the Department of Clinical Neuropsychology and Psychotherapy, the UW Faculty of Psychology.

Managing negative emotions

Combating panic or anxiety, dealing with negative emotions, psychological consulting in critical situations? These issues are being discussed by Mirosława Huflejt-Łukasik, an associate professor of psychology, the Department of Business Psychology and Social Innovations at the UW Faculty of Psychology.