Roots of Resilience: Exploring Community-Focused Mental Health Through Place

Background: Mental health has emerged as a critical public health priority worldwide, demanding context-sensitive and urgent interventions due to rising rates of psychological distress, mental illness, and unmet care needs. The influence of a particular place on mental health and well-being is profound and multifaceted, shaped by physical, social, economic, and cultural conditions. From rural landscapes to urban centers, structural determinants such as housing, poverty, racism, and service access intertwine with individual experiences, impacting mental health outcomes. Current studies emphasize the importance of understanding these geographical and social nuances to address mental health wisely and effectively. Though notable efforts are underway, there remains a significant gap in connecting academic research with ground-level public health initiatives, particularly through community-driven efforts.

This Research Topic aims to bridge this gap by highlighting the significance of place-based approaches in enhancing mental health, especially those driven by community initiatives that are co-produced and sensitive to cultural contexts. By focusing on how mental health is perceived, experienced, and supported at local levels, this research seeks to illustrate the connection between academic findings and actionable public health strategies. We aim to foster discussions that engage with local realities, address structural inequalities, utilize community strengths, and incorporate interdisciplinary perspectives as well as those involving lived experiences.

The research scope delimits its range to community-driven and culturally contextualized mental health approaches and their underlying structural, social, and economic influences.