The power of community: A missing piece in mental health
As a psychotherapist, I often hear people talk about mental health as if it’s an individual journey—something to be managed alone through self-care, therapy, and personal resilience. While these are valuable tools, they tell only part of the story. Mental health does not exist in a vacuum. It is deeply shaped by our connections, our access to support, and the larger systems that either uplift or oppress us.
From a social justice perspective, mental health is not just a personal issue—it’s a collective one. Community is not just a nice addition to individual healing; it’s a necessity.
WHY COMMUNITY MATTERS FOR MENTAL HEALTH
Humans are wired for connection. Research shows that strong social ties can reduce stress, increase emotional regulation, and even improve physical health. But beyond neuroscience, community provides something that therapy alone cannot: a sense of belonging and shared struggle.
For those facing systemic oppression—whether due to racism, ableism, economic inequality, or other forms of marginalization—mental health challenges are not just internal. They are often a response to external realities. Anxiety, depression, and trauma are not simply individual disorders; they are frequently the result of chronic stress, discrimination, and social exclusion. Healing, then, cannot happen in isolation. It requires spaces where people feel seen, understood, and supported.
THE LIMITATIONS OF INDIVIDUALIZED MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Modern mental health treatment tends to focus on the individual. The message is often: "If you’re struggling, seek therapy. If you’re burned out, practice self-care." While these are valid interventions, they overlook a crucial fact: many mental health struggles are rooted in systemic issues.
For example, if someone is experiencing burnout due to workplace discrimination, meditation apps and self-help books won’t fix the underlying problem. If a person’s anxiety is tied to financial insecurity, deep breathing exercises won’t create economic stability. This is where community steps in—not as a replacement for therapy, but as an essential piece of the puzzle.
COMMUNITY AS AN ACT OF RESISTANCE
For marginalized groups, building and maintaining community is more than just a protective factor—it’s a form of resistance. Mutual aid networks, grassroots organizing, and cultural collectives all provide emotional support, but they also create avenues for advocacy and systemic change.
Therapists and mental health professionals have a responsibility to acknowledge this. Healing is not just about coping—it’s about creating conditions where people can thrive. That means shifting away from an individualistic model of mental health and recognizing the power of collective care.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Expand the Conversation – When we talk about mental health, we need to include discussions of social context, systemic oppression, and collective healing.
Support Community-Based Healing Spaces – Therapy is important, but so are peer support groups, activist spaces, and cultural healing practices.
Challenge the Myth of Individualism – Healing doesn’t mean doing it alone. It means finding (or creating) spaces where we can heal together.
Mental health is a social justice issue. If we truly want to support people’s well-being, we need to move beyond individual interventions and build communities that nurture, sustain, and fight for one another. Because healing isn’t just personal—it’s political.