Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 has the theme of Community. In a time when loneliness is increasingly discussed alongside mental health, this year’s focus reminds us that the strength of our mental health is not just about us but about the communities of which we are a part.

What do we mean by Community?

The Mental Health Foundation who lead MHAW describe communities as the “networks of relationships and structures that support us”.  But more than a set of relationships, community is about that sense of belonging and being part of something that is bigger than ourself.  It’s where we find shared identity, mutual care, and collective resilience. When our social connections flourish, so too does our wellbeing.

The Benefits of Community

Strong social ties have been repeatedly shown to reduce the risk of anxiety, depression, and even early mortality. A meta-analysis in 2010 found that people with strong social relationships have a 50% greater chance of survival over time than those who are socially isolated.  This makes the health benefits of relationships comparable with stopping smoking or maintaining a healthy weight. Other research found that close relationships, more than wealth or fame, are what keep people happy throughout life.

Yet despite these insights, feelings of disconnection are rising. A 2023/24 UK government survey found that just 56% of adults agreed that people in their neighbourhood pull together to improve the area which was a decrease from previous years. While 72% reported chatting with neighbours at least once a month, fewer people now feel a strong sense of local collaboration or mutual support. And for younger adults, the picture is more concerning with only 44% of 16-24 year-olds agreeing that people in their local area work together to make things better. This generational gap in perceived community is concerning, especially as young adults report lower levels of happiness compared to previous decades.

Financial pressures can have an impact as a recent survey by the Mental Health Foundation found that one in three UK adults have reduced their participation in activities that support mental health many of which involve connecting with others via socialising, attending community events, or exercising due to financial constraints. For those already experiencing poor mental health, the effects are compounded as fewer opportunities to connect can deepen existing difficulties, creating a vicious cycle of isolation and distress.

Strengthening Community

Community can be strengthened, and we can all contribute to this.  The outcome will be both individual and collective benefit.

Some of the easy ways we used to connect with people have been reduced in modern life as we get in our car rather than walk down the road when we might see a neighbour or use a self-checkout rather than interact with a person. 

Building connection doesn’t need to involve anything big.  It can simply be taking the time to speak to a neighbour before we get in our car or proactively interacting with the person that serves us a coffee.  When out walking in the countryside it is normal to say hello and acknowledge other walkers, in a way that we don’t do in a street.  Reflecting on this I suggest this is due to a sense of connection and feeling part of a community of people out walking and enjoying the countryside.

Small acts of recognition help knit together the fabric of trust and familiarity that strong communities are built on. When people feel seen and valued, they are more likely to engage and in turn experience a stronger sense of belonging.

More structured involvement in communities can have a big impact, it is why people volunteer.  Not only are we contributing to something that is important to us but we also to meet others with shared values. Giving is one of the Five Ways to Wellbeing identifed by the New Economics Foundation. Studies have shown that regular volunteering is associated with lower levels of depression and greater life satisfaction, particularly when it involves meaningful contact with others. Yet formal volunteering has declined in the UK, with only 16% of adults participating at least once a month in 2021/22, which is the lowest rate since records began. Reversing this trend could have real benefits for both individual and community health.

Another way to foster community is by creating inclusive spaces. Ensuring that local groups, events, and public spaces are welcoming to all is essential for equity in mental health outcomes.

Loneliness is a consequence of a lack of connection.  It is not just about being alone.  You can feel lonely amongst people if there is no connection. Shared interests are a powerful way of building connection.  Often, we are part of a particular community and build friendships due to the shared interest, yet if we met in another sphere of life the connection would not be as strong.

Building Community

Each of us can do more to nurture community in our everyday lives.

• We can start by reaching out to others as a matter of habit.
• We can join local groups, support community-run businesses, or attend a local event.
• We can use local places as meeting points.
• We can check in with neighbours, especially those who may be isolated.

Take Action

This Mental Health Awareness Week, let’s take the opportunity not just to reflect, but to act.

Building community isn’t about a single event or gesture.  It is about the habit of choosing connection over isolation.When we invest in each other, we strengthen not only our mental health, but the social fabric that holds us all together.

(For those interested in the photo it was taken at Dancing Ledge on the South West Coast Path near Swanage.  We were the ones sitting on the cliff top – not part of the group rock climbing below!)

There are so many elements to wellbeing and so much we can proactively do to increase our own wellbeing.  To explore the range of workshops and webinars I deliver around all things wellbeing please get in touch.  It would be great to chat!