Mar 20 2024The University of Queensland University of Queensland research has found building a sense of community is key to improving people's mental health, particularly in low socio-economic suburbs.
We found people who live in disadvantaged or resource scarce postcodes have worse mental health than those in advantaged or resource abundant neighborhoods.We found people tend to have greater resilience when they feel part of a community, which can prevent symptoms of depression and reduce stress and anxiety.
Professor Haslam said the research showed community-based initiatives designed to improve health and wellbeing were most effective when they contributed to neighborhood identity-building. "When neighborhoods are designed with this goal in mind, activities like volunteering, grassroots participation, and campaigns to promote connection are a good opportunity for policy makers to have a positive impact.