The Role of Community Organizations in Promoting Mental Health Awareness
By Verna Zhuo
Introduction: As an individual develops and shifts from childhood to adulthood, the surrounding community has been changing alongside them. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, people living in one particular area or people who are considered as a unit because of their common interests, social group, or nationality make up the term community. However, a community is not solely a group of people; it is a feeling of inclusion and connection within that group of people. Through a loving community, it has the capacity to come up with creative initiatives to foster a positive mental health environment and to advocate for the importance of destigmatizing a society’s perception towards seeking help.
Benefits Of A Community: Community based interventions can be defined as strategies that target mental health positively and prevent mental health disorders in the context of people’s everyday lives, by engaging local resources, networks, and cultures. As social beings, humans have an innate need for connection and belonging because of the fear of missing out (FOMO). Strong social ties not only fulfill our emotional and psychological needs, but also serve as a buffer against the challenges that life may throw into our pathways. In times of stress, anxiety, or depression, having a supportive community can provide solace, encouragement, and validation. This support extends beyond immediate family members and encompasses peers, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and even online communities that share common interest and experience.
Specific Interventions: Communities can organize walks, jogs, runs, or other sport events to encourage regular exercise and physical activity. According to a study published at the Harvard Medical School, engaging in physical activity not only improves physical health but also releases endorphins that boost mood and reduce stress levels. Communities can organize workshops, seminars, and informational campaigns to educate people about mental health issues, symptoms, and the importance of seeking help. This reduces stigma and encourages the need to have heartfelt open discussions.
Obstacles and Barriers: One of the most significant barriers to seeking help for mental health issues is the fear of being isolated and stigmatized. Communities that openly discuss mental health and provide a safe space for sharing experiences can help break down these blockades. A community can help by opening conversations which can result in emotional regulation and resilience. Being able to openly express feelings to a community who can sense empathy can be beneficial towards the healing process. These actions can help weaken the barriers that are built around the stigma of seeking mental health treatment.
Effectiveness: According to the FHE Health, what scientists have found is that, whereas social isolation is associated with higher anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, and suicide rates, social connectedness correlates with lower anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, and suicide rates. Therefore, all of the evidence results in the statement that community is critically important to mental health. According to a similar investigation on mental health conducted by the Mental Health Foundation, people who are more socially connected to family, friends, or their community, are happier, physically healthier, and live longer, with fewer mental health problems in comparison to people who are less well connected.
How A Community Can Help Cope Mental Health: An outstanding community also indirectly gives a person struggling with mental health issues the opportunity to be a stronger individual that learns how to cope with it. Because of how great the community was, it will initiate an individual to give back through simple actions such as volunteering. According to Albers, a psychologist for the Cleveland Clinic, expressed that when you help other people, it activates the reward center in your brain and releases serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, which is why many people often feel better after volunteering. Other opportunities that an individual may encounter while volunteering is meeting new people, getting physical activity, developing a sense of purpose, and seeing a new perspective on life itself.
Works Cited
“Community.” Cambridge Dictionary, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, 2024. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/community. Accessed 15 July 2024.
“Exercising to Relax.” Harvard Health Publishing Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing, 7 July 2020. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax. Accessed 26 July 2024.
“Relationships and Community: Statistics.” United Kingdom Mental Health, Mental Health Foundation, 2023. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/relationships-community-statistics. Accessed 26 July 2024.
Robb-Dover, Kristina. “What Experts Say About the Importance of Community to Mental Health.” FHE Rehab, FHE Health, 26 March 2023. https://fherehab.com/learning/experts-on-community-mental-health. Accessed 18 July 2024
“Why Volunteering Can Benefit Your Mental Health.” News Room, Cleveland Clinic, 2024. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2022/11/28/why-volunteering-can-benefit-your-mental-health. Accessed 26 2024
