Celebrating community for Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

In Shared Lives, we see every day how community transforms lives. Shared Lives carers provide welcoming, stable spaces where people who need support can thrive as part of a family and local community. Whether it’s sharing meals, celebrating milestones, or simply being a listening ear, these connections have a lasting impact on everyone involved.

For people experiencing mental ill health, the stability and connection offered by Shared Lives carers can be life changing. Research shows that Shared Lives helps people with mental ill health to live significantly better lives while fostering emotional wellbeing and stronger community ties. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) highlighted in a blog post how the Shared Lives model effectively supports better mental health outcomes through connection and community. Read more here.

Take Meg’s story. After spending most of her youth in and out of hospital, Meg went on to feel valued and connected as part of a supportive family and community in Shared Lives, and has since been living independently. Watch Meg’s story as she shares how Shared Lives helped her rebuild her life, make new connections, and pursue her passions. Today, as a Shared Lives Ambassador, she uses her voice to inspire others to consider Shared Lives support.

According to Rethink Mental Illness, one in four people will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime. With the right support, most can regain a good quality of life. In Shared Lives, we work with carers, the people they support, families, and professionals to raise awareness of mental health conditions and increase access to Shared Lives support.

Emma Jenkins, Mental Health Crisis Manager for the South East Wales Shared Lives Scheme, is helping people with mental ill health to build stronger connections and live more independently through Shared Lives: “This service proves real collaboration between health and social care is possible,” Emma said. “We share information, responsibilities and work as part of mental health teams. This partnership model works and, importantly, it’s making a difference.”

Learn more about how Emma’s team uses the Shared Lives model to provide vital mental health support across Wales here: A community approach to crisis.

Shared Lives schemes around the UK support people with a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, functional neurological disorder (FND), borderline personality disorder, PTSD, extreme childhood trauma, and Tourette syndrome.

Shared Lives support is person-centred and tailored to each individual’s needs, focusing on consistent, stable relationships that promote a sense of belonging and self-worth.

Discover how Shared Lives helps people with mental ill health live significantly better lives: Mental ill health – Shared Lives Plus

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re encouraging everyone to think about the power of community to support mental health. Join the conversation by sharing how community has impacted your mental health using #ThisIsMyCommunity on social media.

To learn more about becoming a Shared Lives carer and provide support in your community, visit www.startyoursharedlife.today.