World Blood Donor Day
By Margaret (Peg) McCormick
Today, June 14, 2025 is this year’s World Blood Donor Day-a global tribute to the millions of donors who give others a chance at life. Each blood donation has the potential to save 3 lives! Think about this for just a moment—where else are we provided the opportunity to have this great an impact? I can’t think of another.
Mental Health Benefits of Blood Donation
I’m surprised at how frequently the seemingly unrelated areas to which I’ve chosen to dedicate my career converge. How could the simple physical act of donating blood positively impact our clients’ quality of life, not to mention our own? It is my hope that by the time you finish reading this short essay, this will be so clear that you will be moved to pick up the phone and call to schedule your own donation. Or, that you will consider adding blood donation to your list of suggested options for clients who are searching for increased meaning, purpose and life satisfaction.
How Did I Get Here?
In Minnesota, I’m licensed as an LPCC-Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. (In Colorado and New York, I have other professional designations.) I am also a Registered Nurse (RN). Both contributed to my work at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) where I was responsible for creating a department that helped patients diagnosed with blood cancers understand and find clinical trials to enroll in. I spoke with hundreds of patients, who were desperately trying to find a treatment that might save their life. I used the scientific education I received as a nurse to understand their diagnoses and the clinical trials that were being offered. I used my counseling psychology training to gently lead clients to an understanding that clinical trials didn’t offer a guarantee of cure. If they chose to enter the trial, the result could be a cure, a longer life, a decrease in their symptoms or, it could be the opposite of all of these. This was the risk they were taking. Most chose to move forward as, by the time they reached me, they had exhausted all other treatment options.
Among other elements, our blood consists of platelets (to prevent bleeding), white blood cells (to prevent infection) and red blood cells (to carry oxygen). Without access to blood transfusion, these patients, simply put, would die. My work brought me face to face with these patients, or the parents of little ones diagnosed with blood disorders. But the need for a blood transfusion is not limited to this patient population. Patients undergoing surgery; trauma patients; patients with chronic kidney disease; those with obstetric complications; rare genetic conditions, just to name a few—all may require a life-saving blood or platelet transfusion. Although I have sporadically donated blood throughout my lifetime, it was during my work with LLS that I became committed to donating as frequently as I was able to. How could I not? Although I knew the statistic—that every two seconds, someone in the US requires a blood transfusion, it was here that that statistic had a human face.
How Could This Selfless Act Enhance Mental Well-being?
Perhaps the answer is revealed in the question itself. How often do we find ourselves searching for ways to help our clients find a sense of purpose or meaning or improved self-image? While few have time to regularly engage in volunteer activities; or have expendable funds to donate to causes they care deeply about, almost everyone could find 30 minutes to an hour to do something that might save 3 lives. Think about it—where else can something we do have that great of an impact??? Donating blood is purely an altruistic act—one that few in the US participate in. In 2020, only 2.6% of adults donated blood. Understanding these facts might encourage a client to explore the possibility. If they decide to donate, the act can lead to increased self-esteem—‘I’m doing good; therefore, despite my problems, there’s a part of me that is good.’
A quick Google search will bring back dozens of articles relating random acts of kindness to a release of oxytocin and dopamine—both which lead to increased serotonin, and all with positive mental health benefits. Oxytocin has a role in creating social bonds and increasing trust; dopamine is known as the ‘feel good’ brain chemical; and serotonin helps regulate mood. The positive impact of blood donation isn’t limited to the 30 minutes spent in the donation chair. Beginning with scheduling the appointment; thoughts during the drive to the donation center; checking in at the donation desk; interacting with the staff as they prepare them for donation; interacting with other blood donors during the snack following donation, even displaying the sticker ‘I’m a blood donor’—each and every part of the process is an opportunity to feel good about what they are doing.
The Process
If you’ve ever donated blood before, you know it’s a simple process. Once registered at www.redcrossblood.org, you will be invited to choose a convenient location and time for your donation. When you arrive at the donation center, the nurse will check your temperature, pulse and blood pressure and measure the level of hemoglobin in your blood. If you ‘pass’ these tests, an IV will be inserted and the blood donation will begin. It typically takes only about 10 minutes to donate a pint of blood (but the entire process can take about an hour). The IV will then be removed and you will be invited rest for about 15 minutes in the lounge to drink a beverage and have a small snack. You are allowed to make up to 6 donations of whole blood per year.
Call to Action
As you might suspect, I do not actively recommend to my clients that they become a blood donor. That said, when working with a client who I believe could benefit from engaging in altruistic activities, blood donation is included as an example. I encourage my clients to find their own way of contributing. That said, I do hope I’ve convinced you to add blood donation to your list of philanthropic options. Think about it: Saved 3 lives today—check!