Positive communities support our mental health and wellbeing by giving us a sense of belonging, connection and purpose. And many of us find this connection online, from social media to video platforms, forums to messaging services. These online communities allow us to make friends, explore hobbies, connect with people who share our own identities and ways of thinking, and learn from those who do not.
But not all communities are safe, and sometimes negative digital spaces can cause us more harm than good.
We all need to be equipped with practical tools to embrace positive online communities, while avoiding the negative ones and protecting our wellbeing in the process.
We’ve created some guidance to help you stay mentally safe while using online communities, as well as for parents and schools who want to support young people in their care with their online activities:
For adults and young people
- Finding online connection around any hobby or interest can help our mental health. But activities we know are particularly good for mental health include spending time in nature, exercise, and creative pursuits. Combining these interests with a healthy online community could protect and improve your mental health.
- There’s nothing wrong with communities that are only online, but in-person connection offers advantages too. The sorts of communities that could benefit your mental health the most might span the online and offline worlds, allowing you to realise the advantages of both forms of interactions.
- Be aware that communities can change over time and become unhelpful, and interests in harmless topics can sometimes lead to damaging communities. Examples would be the way there can be an overlap between holistic wellness communities and ones which push unscientific conspiracy theories, or ones that support self-growth overlapping with hateful ideologies.
- Think about what you don’t want to interact with. Stay away from content, creators, influencers, or people who make you feel bad about yourself or uncomfortable. It’s always OK to block, unfollow, report, or mute others to protect yourself online.
- Pay attention to how you feel when you engage in a community. How does being a part of your community make you feel? Are you anxious, angry, or sad? A healthy community should make you feel connected, respected, and accepted.
- Think about your reasons for wanting to be part of a community. Why do you want to be a part of this space? What do you want to learn or gain from this community?
For parents
- Talk to your children about what groups they’re part of online. You could explore the following questions:
- Do they feel safe?
- Does the community hold everyone accountable?
- Do they feel connected to others?
- Does it align with their values and who they are as a person?
- Does it drain them or make them feel bad about themselves?3
- Does it make them feel hateful or discriminatory towards other people/groups of people?
- Look into what parental controls are available, or whether apps allow you to see what your children are seeing. But remember that technological solutions are no substitute for curiosity and engagement; they’re also imperfect and can often be sidestepped.
- The NSPCC has tips on how to talk to children about online safety, and advice on difficult issues like what to do if you suspect grooming.
For schools
- Schools should ensure that they are fully implementing the non-statutory guidance ‘Teaching Online Safety in Schools’ and teaching according to the ‘Education for a Connected World’ framework.
- Schools should follow the PSHE Association’s Programme of Study (key stages 1–5), including area relevant to supporting young people to understand online communities, staying safe online and avoiding dangerous online influence.1 They can also make use of the PSHE Association lesson pack 'Belonging and community: addressing discrimination and extremism' which helps children and young people to develop their understanding of discrimination and extremism.2
- Schools should take a whole school approach to teaching online safety. For example, they should consider discussing radicalisation and the political and social currents that sit behind hate groups in humanities subjects like English or History.
- Mental Health Support Teams should be aware of the dangers and benefits of the online world and able to discuss these with pupils, including the types of communities they are part of.
We need reform to keep online communities safe
We’re calling on the government for urgent reform to online safety to better protect children and young people’s mental health. Read our blog to find out more.
Tips on navigating online communities while supporting your mental health
How community benefits your mental health
Without community, there’s no mental health. We can’t afford to ignore it.
Mental Health Awareness Week
Since 2001, the Mental Health Foundation has been leading Mental Health Awareness Week - bringing the UK together to focus on getting good mental health. This year, the week takes place from 12 to 18 May 2025 and the theme is 'community'.
Find out more
1. PSHE Association (2020). Programme of Study (key stages 1-5). Retrieved 13 April 2025 from: http://pshe-association.org.uk/guidance/ks1-5/planning/long-term-planning
2. PSHE Association (n.d.) Belonging and community: addressing discrimination and extremism. Retrieved 13 April 2025 from: http://pshe-association.org.uk/resource/belonging-and-community
3. These recommendations are adapted from those published by Mental Health America: http://www.mhanational.org/youth-tech/find-healthy-online-communities