Healing Happens in Connection: How Community Supports Mental Health
Social connection and community engagement is vital to our mental and physical well-being.
In a digital and isolated age of social media and constant “hustling”, we often push this to the side or forget about it altogether. Being with friends, family, and community fosters feelings of belonging, value, and love in our lives. The emotional and physical support that comes alongside meaningful social connections helps us lead happier, healthier lives.
Your community can be anything you choose.
It may be your neighborhood, a group of people you get together with outside of work, or friends and family you share values with. When engaging with your community or finding your community, make sure you surround yourself with people who increase your confidence and happiness, that you leave the engagement feeling better, not worse, and that you feel safe and supported by those around you.
When you connect with others, focus on including your shared beliefs, values, or interests.
Community engagement and support should not be a chore. What is most enjoyable to you? Inviting your friends over for a potluck on the weekend? Finding a board game you all enjoy? Going to a pottery or painting event? How about a sporting event or athletic challenge? There is no “one size fits all” for how to engage with and connect in your community. Make community fit you, don’t try to mold yourself into what you believe society is saying you have to do to be connected.
If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry!
Check your local library, volunteering sites near you, coffee shops, or check out Facebook groups that hold events with like-minded people. It can be scary at first, but it is worth the effort.
References
How Community Engagement Supports Mental Health. (2025). HeartWise. https://www.heartwisesupport.org/post/how-community-engagement-supports-mental-health#:~:text=How%20does%20community%20engagement%20help,and%20normalizing%20mental%20health%20struggles.
How community benefits your mental health. (2026). Mental Health Foundation. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week/how-community-benefits-your-mental-health
Social Connection. (2024). CDC.https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/about/index.html
Anna Grace, Clinical Intern
Anna Grace is a Clinical Intern, completing her Masters Degree in Clinical Counseling at Bellevue University. Anna Grace is on track to be a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado.
She loves to work with adults, young adults, and teens navigating anxiety, life’s transitions, interpersonal relationship challenges, and maternal mental health. Her approach is holistic and integrative, acknowledging the complexity of human existence.