What is Community Mental Health?
Community mental health is not the same as mental health.
When we talk about mental health supports, many people think of medical or clinical treatment services. These services represent only one part of what is needed.
Strong preventative and social supports, mental health services delivered in community-based settings, and robust processes to connect people with clinical services when needed are critical components of a comprehensive approach to mental health.
Community mental health considers individuals from a holistic perspective, acknowledging the full range of what people need to thrive.
Examples of Community Mental Health in action:
Indigenous-led land-based healing programs
Job training and employment support services
Immigrant and refugee settlement services
Community gardens and food security initiatives
Affordable housing programs with mental health supports
Peer support groups for individuals with shared experiences
Characteristics of Community Mental Health:
Holistic Perspective: Community mental health looks at all aspects of a person’s life to help them thrive.
Prevention and Early Intervention: It focuses on addressing mental health problems before they start by offering education, support groups, and programs to build resilience.
Accessible, Local Services: Supports are available in everyday places like schools, workplaces, and community centers, making it easier for people to get help and reducing stigma.
Social Support Networks: Strong relationships with family, friends, and the community are essential for good mental health. Community mental health initiatives encourage these connections through group activities, peer support, and cultural programs.
Culturally Relevant Care: Services are adapted to fit the cultural backgrounds and traditions of different communities, including traditional healing practices and addressing specific cultural challenges.
Empowerment and Inclusion: Community mental health values the entire community. It promotes inclusion by involving those with lived experiences and valuing diverse perspectives in creating effective mental health solutions.
Cost-Effectiveness: Community mental health services are often more cost- effective than traditional, hospital-based or medical treatments.
A strategy for community mental health is about investing in the essential things we all need:
Love, Connection, Belonging, Purpose.
Through numerous community conversations, people with lived experience emphasized the importance of these values in their vision for community mental health.
Community mental health considers individuals from a holistic perspective, acknowledging the full range of what people need to thrive.