Benefits in Seeking Out Mentorship

By Angela Deliz

Published: February 16, 2025

You might hear people recommending mentorship to you, whether it be from us, school, work, etc. The fact of the matter is that mentorship offers many benefits to both mentors and mentees. 

Why is mentorship important? Mentorship is the most economically beneficial response to addressing several risk factors in young people. Things like drug use, teen pregnancies, high school dropout rates, and incarceration rates go down by a lot when the youth in question has a secure relationship with an older, safe adult. This makes mentorship a protective factor to young people’s struggles. 

First and most obviously, mentorship offers guidance for the mentee. Depending on the mentorship program this guidance can cover several areas ranging from socioeconomical, career, educational, and/or mental health. Many young adults feel alone in their struggles, especially disadvantaged youth. Having a mentor to support them through difficult times lowers depressive symptoms and violent behavior, and improves sociability. 

Mentorship offers a safe space for identity development, for working out difficulties in relationships with loved ones, career exploration, and more. Leading to stronger relationships with loved ones, healthier lifestyle choices, and increased positive attitudes towards school leading to higher attendance, graduation, and college enrollment rates. 

There aren’t just benefits for mentees though! Mentors are seen to experience raised self esteem and a sense of purpose. They gain insight into childhood development and learn to be more patient with younger people. They practice interpersonal skills by learning to read their mentee, figuring out what to say in difficult moments, and by sharing relevant experience to give the mentee more knowledge and insight on their own situation. 

In the end all mentorship really is is a safe third person, in addition to their parental figures, that can provide that protective factor for these young people in a variety of different situations by being someone they can talk to and that will help lead them to the best life possible. Someone to believe in them and cheer them on when things get hard.