The power of community and feeling like you belong

In this blog, Lauren reflects on the 2025 theme for Mental Health Awareness Week – community. She shares her personal journey with mental health and highlights the importance of community in creating safe, supportive spaces for young people to feel understood, connected, and empowered.

Hello everyone,

My name is Lauren Conway, and I’m part of the Wolfson Centre’s Young Person’s Advisory Group (YAG) and the founder of the Neuro Network. Since it’s Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to take the opportunity to share a little of my story and talk about why community matters so much in relation to mental health, especially for those of us navigating mental health challenges.

As someone with mental health difficulties and other challenges, I often felt misunderstood or unsupported by the systems that were meant to help. Having a strong sense of community during those times would have made a huge difference. Where services fell short, peer support and understanding from others could have helped me feel less alone. That’s why groups like YAG and the Neuro Network are so important: not only do they offer that sense of connection and support, but they also work to improve mental health research and inform service development so future care is more accessible and inclusive. Meeting others with similar experiences has been comforting and empowering—something I didn’t have until recently.

My own journey has taught me the power of community. Since coming to university, I’ve discovered how important it is to put yourself out there and find people who truly get you. I still felt out of place at first, masking, avoiding social events, and navigating my way through a space that often felt overwhelming. But midway through my degree, I founded a society for neurodivergent students, which helped me to find connection, build confidence, and promote awareness.

The YPAG brings young people with lived experience together to advise on mental health research, ensuring that projects reflect the needs and voices of those they aim to support. Being part of the YPAG has been a refreshing experience. It’s a space where our voices truly matter and our insights help shape better outcomes in mental health research.

The Neuro Network is a non-profit community group I co-founded to support neurodivergent individuals in the community. We run regular peer support groups, including an ADHD group in partnership with Cardiff Council, and host inclusive events like autism and ADHD support groups and a neurodivergent queer crafting club. It’s a space where everyone is welcomed and encouraged to be themselves, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity. Both the YAG and Neuro Network help to improve societal understanding of neurodiversity and mental health challenges and to move us closer to a world where talking about your struggles doesn’t feel taboo.

I’ve recently come to understand just how vital it is to have a support network—people who don’t make you feel weird or different, but instead make you feel like you belong. It’s not always easy—I still face moments of loneliness and anxiety. But being surrounded by people who share similar experiences makes me feel more connected and understood. It’s amazing how much difference a genuine, caring community can make. Being able to talk about mental health conditions openly, in spaces that feel safe, should not be a privilege, but it often still is.

Loneliness is more than just an emotion—it’s a public health issue, and it’s especially common. Community can be a powerful antidote to loneliness. Finding the right community—whether online or in person- can provide a sense of belonging, shared understanding, and emotional support.

Putting myself out there and meeting others with similar experiences has not only helped me make new friends but also improved my mental health. There’s something incredibly empowering about finding your tribe and knowing you’re not alone.

I’m still building my community—it’s an ongoing journey— but I’ve gone from feeling like I didn’t belong to creating spaces where I can be my unmasked self. That’s what I want for others, too: a community where you feel accepted, connected, and supported. If you’re feeling isolated, know that there are people and groups out there ready to welcome you just as you are.

Here are a few resources I find helpful:

• Explore your hobbies or things you’ve always wanted to try, and look for community groups around those interests.
• Use websites like Facebook, Eventbrite, and local forums to find events and communities near you.
• If you’re in Cardiff, check out FAN (Friends and Neighbours), which hosts free weekly meetups for people to connect and practise English or Welsh in a relaxed space
• Cardiff Third Sector Council (C3SC) has a community directory full of local activities and support groups
• Cardiff Hubs and Libraries host free events and social gatherings
• Cardiff Mind offers mental health support and opportunities to connect

You can find similar resources available locally.

Thank you Lauren for writing this blog.

At the Wolfson Centre, community is an important part of what we do. From co-producing research with young people to partnering with schools, families and health workers, we know that improving mental health takes collaboration, trust and real conversations — and that no one can do it alone.

If you would like to join or learn more about our Youth Advisory Group please see our website page.

Interested in how we do Public Involvement? Check out our aims and case studies on Public Involvement page.