How to Build a Sense of Community When Struggling with Depression

Having a support system or community is an important aspect of managing your mental health. However, it can be difficult to build this community and you may not always be able to rely on those you have in the past. For your own benefit, you should find ways to build your own community. 

Join a Club or Group

To feel more connected to people, it can be helpful to share a common interest. When you share a common interest, it’s easier to have a discussion and to generally get along with people. There are many ways you can find people who share your interests. Joining a club or other similar group is a place to start. Examples of clubs include a book club or a community sports team. Everyone is there because they are interested in the same activity and you can all participate together. When joining clubs and groups, you can meet lots of new people and forge new friendships.

Take a Class

As you build your community, you might as well also build yourself. Taking a class to learn a new subject or skill is a great place to increase your sense of community because you are learning with other people. You also have the opportunity to help each other learn. You can form study groups or get together outside of class to work on the skills you are learning. You can take classes to receive some sort of certification, such as getting a real estate license, or you can learn a new skill in a cooking class. Find something that interests you and learn something new while getting to know other people in similar situations. 

Volunteer

One of the best ways to feel a sense of community and to simply feel good is by volunteering. When you volunteer you have the opportunity to help other people who are struggling. You feel intrinsically rewarded by helping others. Additionally, volunteering helps you to feel more connected to others. Volunteering allows you to get out of the house and be around other people. If you volunteer for the same things, you are likely to make friends and see familiar faces over time. 

 

Community is important, but sometimes it takes some effort on your part to build that community. There are many steps you can take to help you find your community. You may need to step outside your comfort zone, but it will all be worth it. 

Learn more about how you can manage your depression.