Why your community is key to your mental health
Gerontology expert Alexis Ambramson reveals the importance of a sense of community and how it can impact our mental health.
Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING] If you see someone, a neighbor or something like that, doesn't seem to have a community, be their community.
Just, when I think of community, I think of engagement with other people. Lively engagement. But if we are isolated and we are by ourselves
and we are completely disengaged, for whatever reason, that lack of community, that lack of support, and really, togetherness impacts us
severely, especially impacts older adults. Get out and create your own community. But also, if you see someone, a neighbor or something like,
that doesn't seem to have a community, be their community. Be there for them. I think it's important, and it's critical.
And we will all see this, especially as we get older, how impactful a positive, large, supportive community
is in our lives. When you think about community, the National Alliance of Mental Health really breaks it down
beautifully into categories. There are three according to them, and I endorse this 100%-- belonging, support, and purpose.
So let's go with the first one, belonging. We all want to feel like we belong, right? We all want to feel like we're a part of something
and a part of a group and a part of people that are like-minded. The second one they talk about how important it is to build your own community is support.
What you want to see happen is to have people around you that can support you. Someone that will bring a meal after you've
come from the hospital, or someone that will just lend an ear, or something that is just as simple as having coffee with someone or a drink
with someone. Whatever makes you happy. But making sure that you have that supportive force around you.
And then, finally, I would say purpose. And purpose is a great one that they have categorized.
A lot of times, you land up in a situation where you think what your purpose is. Stepping back and looking at, what is my true identity?
What is my authentic self? And making sure that the community reflects that. [INAUDIBLE] your community that works
the best for you physically, mentally, and socially. [AUDIO LOGO]
mental health behavior
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