Do you say please and thank you? It could be affecting your health

According to research, belonging to and being involved in community can have a significant effect on both physical and mental wellbeing.

Local GP from Geelong Medical and Health Group Dr Renuka Balasubramaniam said the link between community and physical health was often forgotten but significantly contributed to overall wellbeing.

“I think in a sense we often need to think about health in a holistic view, and I think the most important thing is, while we have diagnoses and we define people by certain medical conditions, what we need to understand is a lot of medical conditions, particularly chronic diseases, are linked to lifestyle factors, and this all comes from the community.

Dr Balasubramaniam said lifestyle factors included healthy eating patterns, staying active in the community, and staying social in a community.

“A huge portion of the management plan comes from the lifestyle change and on things that exists in the community and what access people have to extracurricular activities and a healthy diet and so forth.”

She said community was also important for those already suffering from chronic issues, helping them manage the emotional toll of diseases.

“A lot of people that come in with chronic diseases, whether it’s chronic pain or heart disease or diabetes, they can end up suffering from anxiety and depression, having a social support group, mental health support, also plays an important role.”

Studies by the Canadian Mental Health Association show mental and physical health is fundamentally linked, especially around chronic conditions.

In the 2001 National Health Survey, people with mental and behavioural problems were shown to be twice as likely to be hospitalised as those without these problems.

Holly McVerry from Surf Coast Psychology said the connection between community, physical health and mental health was well established.

“It’s all part of the same thing, it’s all connected.

“You can’t isolate one factor, we’re whole humans, whole human beings and our physical and mental health are very connected.

“We are human being are innately designed to be together. So, the people who tend to engage in the community have such benefits, mental and physical.”

BetterHealth, alongside consultation with the Victorian Department of Health and Relationships Australia note that research shows those with strong social relationships are not only happier but have fewer health problems and increased longevity.

Researchers have also found having people to talk to and depend on and making new connections through hobbies or a social group can help reduce the risk of mental illness.

But according to the Department of Health, about one-third of Australian adults are not involved in any social or community groups.

“I think we’re well-resourced as a community, there are so many options out there and I think people are normally really good at finding out about what’s going on,” McVerry said.

“Often the reason is actually really common is that we have these in built fears particularly off the back of the pandemic, ‘what if I don’t like it? ‘What if I don’t fit in?’

“All these things pop up in our minds and cause us to feel like we’d rather just stay home and can be scary to begin with.

“But by facing it and working through it, you’ll find that other people are in exactly the same boat, and as soon as you step out of your comfort zone and start connecting, there are worlds that start connecting and that feeling starts to ease.”

For those who don’t yet have a strong community, there are several ways to get involved, from sport clubs to spiritual communities to connect groups, but McVerry said to overcome their fears, people were recommended to start small.

“So, I would just put the challenge to people, just the importance of social connection through face to face contact, it can be so small, It doesn’t have to be join this group or course.”

“Start by saying hey to your neighbour, saying please or thank you when you’re out a bit more, or looking people in the eye.

“That can make you feel more connected to the world around you; you have that relational exchange.”

BetterHealth, alongside consultation with the Department of Health and Relationships Australia provides resources for those looking for small ways to get connected.

Head to headtohealth.gov.au/meaningful-life/connectedness/community to find out more.