Issues 24th November 2023 by Megan Roantree

How You Can Help When You’re Feeling Helpless

"it can be normal to think that nothing will solve the huge problems in the world"

Photo by Dương Nhân / Pexels

Whether you’re reading world news about ongoing war and violence, looking at the local news detailing unrest and racism, or feeling particularly passionate about an injustice or cause, we can often feel totally helpless.

In the age of social media, a new form of social pressure has emerged in which people feel as though they have to be vocal online as quickly as possible to appear engaged or interested.

This often leads to social media users sharing infographics or posts by others, so that they can feel like they are contributing to the conversation. Of course, it can be helpful to spread awareness and information and to show your support, but there are downsides to the trend too.

Cynics would suggest that some people with large followings on social media do it more so as a tick-the-box exercise than a helpful act.

Just recently, many celebrities were criticised for spreading misinformation in regard to the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict. This is why we need to inform ourselves, and then act, rather than feeling like a public reaction is the most important step.

While we can often learn from social media activists, and it can be a useful way to share your view, there are many other steps that you can take.

So if you’re feeling passionate about helping a cause you care about, or using your voice, but don’t know where to start, what can you do?

While you may feel helpless as just one individual, or feel as though you don’t have the power or resources to make an impactful change, there are many ways you can contribute to helping a community. 

Educate

The first and most important step is education. Finding accurate, reliable and unbiased information on the internet these days is becoming increasingly difficult. It’s important not to rely on social media, like X (Twitter) or TikTok especially when it comes to the news, where fact-checking might be more difficult.

In our current climate, exaggerated, dramatic content performs best, which means that the facts can often get drowned out by misleading content. Look to legitimate news organisations, charities and those with lived experience of the issue, so that you can fully understand the issue and what’s needed. 

Get political 

Next up, it’s time to get political. Our government was elected into a position of power, and we have the right to express issues or concerns with them.

Whether you need to speak to a local representative about an issue in your town, or the Irish government for their involvement in global affairs, or there is a law or policy you don’t agree with, it’s important to use your voice. Representatives’ contact details will be available online.

While you may not always get a response, a politician or elected official will often pay attention to concerns when many people are contacting them about the same issue. Encourage friends or family members to send emails too and make it clear that it’s an issue concerning a number of people.

Charities and organisations will often supply templates that you can use in your email, laying out that issue at hand. Reach out to an organisation you care about and ask them if you can send an email on their behalf. 

Donate 

Of course, if you have money to spare, donating to a cause can be a helpful, more immediate action.

It can be difficult to know where best to donate your money when it comes to helping causes you care about. Just like news, research is crucial when it comes to deciding who to donate to. Legitimate and helpful organisations will have detailed information on how and who they help on their websites.

Give your time

As the saying goes, the greatest gift you can give is your time. So if you’ve got some to spare, you can use it to make a difference.

Whether it’s volunteering in the evening, meeting with other activists to establish the next steps, or attending a protest for something you feel is unjust, showing up is a major part of activism and of making a difference. 

You may feel powerless in difficult situations, but we all have the power to be activists by making small steps and changes with good intentions. 

Alice Regis, Activism and Engagement Officer for Amnesty International Ireland says: 

“With everything that is going on these days, it can be normal to think that nothing will solve the huge problems in the world, or even help a little bit. Even activists with years of experience can be stuck with this feeling. This is why I always encourage people to start local.

“Start making a difference in your own community. By being a local activist working on local issues, you can make a real difference and you will start to see your time and energy make concrete, positive changes. The issues nearest to you may seem small compared to what we see on the news, but small actions can, and do, change people’s lives.Once you have started, look for others who are fighting your fight.

“There are so many people like you trying to do the right thing. If you see a cause that speaks to you, don’t be shy about approaching and asking how you can join. At Amnesty, we always appreciate the help! Being part of big campaigns and actions can help us in not feeling alone in the fight. It is true what they say, together we are stronger.”

This article originally appeared in the December 2023 issue of STELLAR magazine.

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