Human beings are naturally social animals. We don’t have to look far to understand this – most of us live in family groups and form wider communities like towns and villages. As well as being our natural way of life, communities also help us maintain good mental health and a sense of purpose. This is why Mental Health Awareness Week has chosen “community” as its theme for 2025.
What do we mean by community?
A community is any group of people who have something in common. Book groups, faith groups, sports teams, volunteering teams, friends and neighbours are all types of community.
How do communities support good mental health?
Being part of a community helps us take a break from our worries. Often, when we go back to a problem after we’ve spent time with others, it seems smaller.
When we get together with other people, it’s almost impossible to spend too much time thinking about our own problems. Maybe we’re helping other people with theirs – this can give us a great sense of proportion, as well as helping us see our own issue in a wider context.
If seeing other people is a chance to vocalise what’s on our mind, we sometimes find that it sounds like a much less serious problem once we’ve said it out loud.
Or maybe we’re so busy performing music, clearing brambles or doing an exercise class that we don’t have time to think about anything else. Taking our thoughts outside of ourselves and focusing on the group purpose is a wonderful break for an anxious mind.
When we work together, we are a powerful force. We can create gardens, music, stage shows, charity events and more. We can harness the power of our love, support and faith, pulling together to make the world a better place. These are exciting, satisfying projects to be part of – that’s why we gain a strong sense of purpose from being part of a community.
How does being part of a community complement other therapies?
If you’re already receiving therapy for any issue at all, going out and being part of something positive will usually help you gain more from your sessions and make any solutions more sustainable.
You might choose to talk about what you’re going through with others at your choir, book group or place of worship. Or you might designate the time to not talk about it and consciously give yourself a break to focus on the group’s purpose instead.
Whatever approach you decide on, being part of a community can help you find a sense of purpose and proportion – both are good news for your mental health.
Therapy and counselling in Leeds
If you think you could benefit from support from a therapist or counsellor, Evolve can help. Our team offers a wide range of different therapies, each addressing different issues in the right way for you. Meet our therapists here or get in touch to find out more.
