Welcome to the 280th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, I dive into the vital role of community in supporting mental health and wellbeing.

I explore how communities foster belonging, safety, and purpose, the challenges they face due to societal changes, and actionable ways to strengthen local and workplace communities.

In today’s show on How local communities support our wellbeing

• The importance of community for mental health and wellbeing [01:30 ]
• Defining community through the Co-op’s Community Wellbeing Index [04:15 ]
• Challenges facing communities, including funding cuts and mental health service gaps [07:20 ]
• Practical ways to support and build local communities [12:05 ]
• Benefits of fostering community in workplaces and beyond [13:03 ]

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Quotes on How local communities support our wellbeing

• Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and well-being. And we do thrive when we have strong connections.
• A workplace community fosters employees' sense of belonging, trust, and unity.
• Work has a very important part to play in ensuring that we have that community and that sense of belonging at work.
• Mental well-being and health are everyone's responsibility.
• Perceived hard topics are the ones we need to be addressing, as avoiding them won't make them go away.

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Resources for How local communities support our wellbeing

• What is the Community Wellbeing Index?
• The Five Essential Elements of Well-Being
• Five Ways to Wellbeing during Coronavirus restrictions
• Download the free 200-episode guide with clickable links HERE.
• Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
• Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
• Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe

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Work with me

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

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One-hour focused Sessions £250 1-2-