Volunteering in medico-political professional organisations as a socially rewarding and productive activity: a primer for psychiatrists and trainees

Objective: To describe the rationale for, and benefits of, trainees and psychiatrists to be involved in medico-political volunteering.
Conclusions: Volunteering for professional organisations and other bodies may be considered as an important advocacy role for psychiatrists. Such volunteering is meaningful through shared goals and achievements, as well as developing a sense of mastery and significance as part of a larger quest. Volunteering is also a professional developmental process that both enhances individual skills/career development as well as organisational efficacy.