The Benefits of Community on Mental Health
We often hear a lot about the word community but less frequently are we given bite-sized understandings of the real benefits of community. We know it’s important, yet perhaps it would be easier to commit if we understood why it was so important to us specifically. When referring to a community , it’s often framed as “other people” and while it does involve others, it includes the individual too. The healthier we are as individuals, the healthier we are as a community. Today we’ll define community in a few easy-to-understand ways and share why it is so beneficial for everyone’s mental health so be sure to follow along until the end!
What is community?
Years ago, the NIH asked the question, “What does the word community mean to you?” in an effort to discover an Evidence-Based Definition for Participatory Public Health the common definition turned out to be “a group of people with diverse characteristics who are linked by social ties, share common perspectives, and engage in joint action in geographical locations or settings.”
Another definition, from Dictionary.com, that stands out is “community is a social group whose members have something in common, such as a shared government, geographic location, culture, or heritage.”
In a nutshell, community is a form of social support that is generally linked to at least one relatable or similar aspect among those within the community.
How does community benefit mental health?
Investing and participating in community has shown to have profound benefits on our mental health for a broad number of reasons. The benefits of community on mental health are often inextricably interconnected, each one affecting another at all times. Here are just a few of the standout benefits we found when looking at community and mental health.
- Feeling seen and having a sense of belonging
Having people who see and understand us makes it easier for us to see and understand others in return. Feeling alienated can cause us to live in our heads, ruminate, and be overly critical of ourselves and others. When you feel a sense of care and belonging, it’s much easier to see the need to extend grace and care to others and ourselves.
- Less depression, anxiety, and stress
Humans are designed to need each other. Interacting with other people who we can trust and rely on signals to our body that we are safe and supported. When we feel safe, our nervous systems can regulate more easily, which often has positive outcomes as it relates to anxiety, depression, and stress.
- Meaningful sense of purpose
Without community, it can be more difficult to know what we should be doing and why we should be doing it. When we have a community surrounding us, we are likely to be more motivated to show up for ourselves and others. The community’s needs and our desire to have a place in it can help us determine what paths through life we would like to take.
- Better coping skills
When we start to understand that we are surrounded by people who share parts of our identity, location, morals, or experiences, we may feel encouraged to seek support from people who understand us rather than defaulting to less healthy coping mechanisms. Community helps us remember that we aren’t alone which tends to improve our desire for preserving our well-being and making better choices for coping skills.
- More support systems
Connecting to community means you have more opportunities to receive support as well as provide it to others. In our recent blog about How to Be a Good Friend, we discuss the importance of being someone that others can count on. In communities, we learn to rely on each other to shoulder the burdens that we all sometimes experience in life.
How can someone find community?
Community can be found and created in a variety of ways and places. Sometimes you’ll find communities that already exist to become a part of. However, sometimes we ourselves can be responsible for creating community. Communities do not all look or function the same but this is a good thing! We live in a diverse world full of people with different wants, needs, beliefs, goals, and problems. Having many types of community is powerful and healthy to help make sure people aren’t left without one. Although we still have a lot of work to do as a society to make sure everyone is included somewhere, here are a few ideas of places that you can look for community:
- Faith organization
- Church events
- Spiritual gatherings
- Religious holiday celebrations
- Work initiatives
- Lunchtime walking club
- Book club
- Volunteer work
- Identity-based community
- Cultural connection
- Gender
- Sexuality
- Family dynamics (new mom, oldest sibling, adopted child, widow etc)
- School clubs
- Academic club
- Theatre club
- Student government
- Relationship-based community
- Singles
- Newlyweds
- Married parents with kids
- Local/neighborhood community
- Community volunteers
- Local sports
- Local small business events
- Chamber of Commerce
These are just a few examples of places where you can look for existing community structures to participate in. However, if you can’t find community that resonates with you, you aren’t alone. Although it might seem daunting, you can also create your own community. Start small! Ask someone you have something in common with to meet up for coffee and discuss. Invite a friend to read the same book as you and share your thoughts over dinner. If you work remotely, schedule a Zoom party with other people in the same line of work as you who are open to connecting on industry topics. The opportunities are endless.
At Genesis Counseling in Tampa, we know that it can be overwhelming to know where to start when seeking community. We’re here to help. Counseling is a great opportunity to get help making a plan to connect with others from someone who has your mental health in mind. If you’re seeking support in your search for meaningful community connections, schedule an appointment with us today!
