Building Community & Connection: A Path to Better Mental Health
Lately I’ve been thinking about community and how important it is. Community can be defined as “a group of people with diverse characteristics who are linked by social ties, share common perspectives, and engage in joint action in geographical locations or settings”. Personally, I’d include fandoms in that definition.
Finding joy in unexpected places
This past month I had the joy of seeing the Taylor Swift theater experience the same weekend as the University of Michigan’s Homecoming game. I love being able to say “Go Blue!” or “Hi Swiftie!” to a stranger and feel an instant bond. I also convinced the in-laws to learn the Fate of Ophelia tiktok dance for a bat mitzvah party! All of these experiences left me feeling more uplifted, connected, and less weighed down by the state of the world these days.
Do you have a fandom - or a shared interest - you can connect with to feel included?
From me to we
One of my yoga teachers describes community as moving from me to we. Sometimes the first hurdle is just getting off the couch or out of the house. Community isn’t always comfortable, there can be differences of opinion, fatigue or worries about how we’ll be perceived. But the research is clear: social connections support both mental and physical health.
Here are some interesting data to consider:
A loneliness epidemic
Even post‑COVID, many of us spend more time at home, and teens spend less time in person with friends.
Data like this underpin what the Surgeon General’s Advisory has called “our epidemic of loneliness and isolation” (full read below). The research is clear: social connections support both mental and physical health. Meanwhile, social isolation is linked with a higher risk of anxiety, depression and chronic illness.
So how do we take small, doable steps towards connection?
Small steps to build connections
So how do we take small, doable steps toward connection? I often talk with kids about how to “level up” a friendship and the same is true for adults. Here’s a simple framework:
Start with common interests. Join a fandom or hobby group whether it’s a sports team, book club or a shared love of Taylor Swift.
Reach out to acquaintances. Move from acquaintance to friend by sending a message or suggesting coffee.
Be brave. Accept that awkwardness is part of connection. In fact, reframing awkwardness as the “price of connection” can make social interactions easier.
Get our free “Level Up a Friendship” worksheet—it walks you through the steps to widen your circle.
Consider this your nudge to be brave: reach out to a new person or show up for a community you care about.
Thank you for being part of the Well Brain community. We’re grateful for you!
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Good News Corner
Among adolescents aged 12 to 17, the percentage who had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year declined from 12.9% in 2021 to 10.1% in 2024. Similarly the percentage who had a major depressive episode in the past year declined from 20.8% in 2021 to 15.4% in 2024 (SAMHSA National Survey).
What We're Reading
Check out the Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.
What We're Watching
My friend Ali Mattu’s video about reframing awkwardness as the price of connection