The power of community

Community is one of our 12 Emotional Needs that we need to meet in balance so that we can stay well, but how can we meet it?

We are social beings who need to belong to groups.

When we don’t feel that we are part of a group, our stress and anxiety levels can go up. However, reducing social isolation lowers stress levels and the risk to mental and physical health.

Community groups are also where we find out about other people’s points of view which can give us a richer take on the world. As a rule of thumb, the wider and richer our community groups are in their viewpoints, the healthier our view of reality is likely to be.

Joining a community group

Joining groups which meet our need for Community can be daunting if we are going for the first time.

A first step to building confidence and motivation can be to make a list of activities you have enjoyed in the past. Perhaps this was going to an arts and crafts group, a reading group or going to the gym.

The memory of how we enjoyed an activity can give us enough confidence to take things further. If you have a friend who also enjoys a group activity, buddying up to support each other can be a helpful strategy.

Groups you can join with Suffolk Mind

At Suffolk Mind, we have a variety of free to attend groups that can help you meet your need for Community, among many others:

GreenCare: Our GreenCare allotment projects help participants to improve their physical and mental health through outdoor activities while working alongside others. You can self-refer for our GreenCare service via the self-referral form.

Open Space: Open Space is a number of drop-in health and wellbeing groups across Suffolk, which are run by trained staff and supported with volunteers. There’s no need to sign-up, simply drop in to your nearest Open Space when you want to. Everyone is welcome!

Fundraising: Fundraising enables you to be part of a fantastic community here at Suffolk Mind. You can fundraise with friends or colleagues, or even speak to our Fundraising Team to see how best you can support us.

Volunteering: We’re always on the hunt for volunteers at Suffolk Mind. Whether you are an event volunteer or a service volunteer, both are integral in helping us to meet our mission to make Suffolk the best place in the world to talk about and take care of mental health.