30 January

We celebrate community for Great Mental Health Day

It’s Great Mental Health Day on 31 January. The aim of Great Mental Health Day is to get people talking about thier mental health and wellbeing and to raise awareness of the great local services available to Londoners all year round. They say; 

"We all need community. We all need connection. And in a world where those who face the greatest disadvantages in life also face the greatest risks to their mental health, we need these safe spaces more than ever. Great Mental Health Day is also an opportunity to celebrate and learn from the organisations across the region and those in our communities who are devoting energy and compassion to others." 

To celebrate, we asked The Lord Mayor’s Appeal team what community means in terms of their own mental health…

Kate, Corporate Partnerships Manager

I have several different groups I think of as my communities. While most of these have been established through volunteering, in the hope that my skills and experience can support others, I truly believe I receive back ten-fold what I give out.

Within the community I live in, I sit on the board of Governors for our local Primary School which has supported my ability to engage in community activities fostering social connections, which are essential for my mental health. Being involved in my school community gives me a sense of purpose, a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment.  In addition to the copious hours spent reading policies and papers for meetings (which aren’t quite so closely linked to positive mental health benefits!) there’s the undeniable benefit of spending time in school, whether that’s acting as a mystery reader in the Early Years classes or working with the school council to support the pupil voice which shapes the school’s ethos.

Being part of a community exposes us to diverse perspectives and experiences. This diversity can lead to personal growth and a broader understanding of the world. Engaging with different viewpoints and participating in community activities can enhance empathy, tolerance, and open-mindedness. It is for this reason I have been a member of the City of London (Corporation’s) Ethnicity and Race Network for a number of years and volunteer as a lead on the delivery of our annual events calendar. This role has given me the opportunity to connect with individuals who I would otherwise not have had the fortune meet and, in some cases, have led to lasting friendships and a strong sense of camaraderie.

For me, being involved within any activity which amplifies and nurtures a sense of belonging for everyone within any of the communities of which I am part works to feed my soul and builds on my sense of purpose and that cannot help but have a positive impact on my overall wellbeing.

Matt, Head of Programmes

I have been a member of my cricket club my whole life, playing my first game at nine years old, often with three other members of my family in the same side. The club brings together a range of people who might not have otherwise met. Beyond playing cricket in the summer, we have groups that go on golf trips, climb mountains, play padel, organise team dinners, quiz nights and host afternoons for our families to come together. Being part of the club provides me with a community to share my passion for sport with but has also led to lifelong friendships and connections I can call upon. 

During the pandemic, I started a music-based game with a group of friends over WhatsApp as a way to keep in touch and pass the time. Every day would require the group to each pick a song based on the days theme (for example: pick a song with a colour in the title). We would discuss our choices and as friends do, the conversation would often develop and continue. Five years on, we still play almost every day. The impact of this has been that a group of friends that would talk sporadically now talk every day, strengthening our friendship and creating a community that has been there for one another through all that has come our way, good or bad in the last few years.

Caroline, Chief Executive

I sing with my choir Popchoir which is a non- auditioning choir.  We meet every Tuesday evening for 90 mins of singing either practicing songs or learning new ones.  It is a mix of people from the community around and we always have a laugh.  We are also lucky to have Maxwell a black Labrador guide dog who comes with his owner every week.  He wanders around to everyone during rehearsals getting strokes and attention.  Often, we finish the evening with a drink and pizza. Singing is known to be a positive for mental health and my Tuesdays are certainly testament to that, with the added bonus of a dog to stroke.

Lucy, Head of Comms

Most mornings you’ll find me at 7.30am on Southsea beach with a gaggle of people from a range of ages, backgrounds, perspectives and bathing costumes, getting ready for a refreshing sea dip. I started cold water swimming during lockdown, to get out of the house and to connect with other humans and I quickly got hooked.

I’m one of those people who quite often wakes up feeling low, overwhelmed or doom-leaden but once I’ve submerged myself in the sea, eyes level with the horizon, those feelings start to slip away. By the time I’m sat, wrapped up in a million layers again, putting the world to rights with the swimming group over a flask of tea, I feel ready to take on the day – if not the world!  

Find out more about This is Me here