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

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.