Community benefits young people’s mental health but only 4 in 10 can access it regularly

A group of two young people and an adult sitting on the grass in the park and laughing together.

New research, released today by mental health charity YoungMinds and Bupa Foundation, highlights the importance being part of a community plays in young people’s lives, improving their mental health and confidence and giving them a sense of belonging. Yet over half of young people are unable to access their community as often as they’d like.

The findings, gathered from over 1,500 young people aged 16-25, are shared as YoungMinds prepare to unveil their garden, in collaboration with Chase Gardens and supported by Bupa Foundation, at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. The garden explores the many pressures young people are experiencing which harm their mental health and the strength found in forging connection and community.

96% of young people said they have access to a community, defined as people and places they’re close to.

But only 41% are able to access their community as often as they want.

Of the 96%:

47% said community improves their mental health

45% said community helps them make friends

43% said community builds their confidence

42% said community gives them a sense of belonging

In many instances, marginalised young people are more likely to feel the benefits of being in a community. Over half (53%) of young people with a disability said being in a community improves their mental health. 52% of LGBTQ+ young people and 55% of those who have struggled with their mental health also said this.

Over half (54%) of Black young people said being in a community helps them make friends and 46% said it gives them a sense of belonging. 48% of LGBTQ+ young people also gained a sense of belonging, along with 49% of young people with a disability and 52% of those who have struggled with their mental health.

What community means to young people

A young Black woman in a wheelchair talking to a young Black man on a bench in the park. The woman is laughing while the man explains something.

For all young people, community means supporting each other (63%), feeling safe (56%), being with friends (52%) and accessing support (44%). Supporting each other is highest among young people who have struggled with their mental health, at 72% and young people with a disability at 68%. Nearly half (47%) of LGBTQ+ young people said community means a space where they can be themselves, compared with 39% of all 16-25-year-olds.

For Asian young people, over half (51%) said community means being able to access support, compared with 44% of all young people. Having a shared interest is important to 49% of Black young people, compared with 43% of all young people.

Growing community Young people, connection and green spaces

The research also highlights the power of shared outdoor spaces in supporting young people’s mental health. Six in ten young people (60%) say public green spaces improve their mental health, and three quarters (75%) would like to spend more time in them. The most common barrier is not having someone to go with (26%), showing the need for inclusive, community-led spaces where young people can connect.

As part of YoungMinds’ Creative Outdoor Skills Programme, supported by Bupa Foundation, a group of Black and racially minoritised young people have been working and learning alongside Chase Gardens over the last few months and are helping to prepare the YoungMinds Garden for Chelsea Flower Show.

More than one in three young people (36%) spend time with their community in public green spaces. The programme has brought together a group of 16-25-year-olds from across the country to develop horticultural skills, build confidence and create community. As part of making the opportunity accessible, all young people are being paid for their time on the programme and at Chelsea Flower Show, made possible by the support of Bupa Foundation.

After Chelsea Flower Show the YoungMinds Garden will be relocated to Newham where it will become a permanent space for young people and the wider community to be together, build connections and develop their gardening skills.

Being in the YoungMinds activism community, including the youth participation programme for Chelsea Flower Show, and connecting with others who can understand and relate to my story, helps improve mental health and provides a powerful sense of belonging.

As I’ve found my voice and supported my peers, my confidence has grown. It’s helped me feel less alone and given me a sense of belonging. We have a safe space to share experiences, talk openly about feelings, and connect with others. This builds confidence, encourages honest conversations about mental health, and helps us all feel heard and valued. Young people are the future; therefore, we need communities where we can be together so we can help shape the future.

From the young people we work with and as this research shows, we know how important community can be in supporting mental health, whether building connections and friendships, accessing support or helping create a sense of belonging. This is at a time when many young people are experiencing multiple pressures which harm their mental health, from academic demands and rising living costs to long waits for support. These pressures are not felt equally with marginalised young people facing additional barriers to being heard and accessing support. Being in a community provides clear benefits to mental health, yet the research shows many young people are unable to access their community as often as they’d like. We want all young people to be part of a community in the way that’s right for them. And this is what we’ve enabled through working with Chase Gardens on the YoungMinds Garden, opening up this world to young people who thought gardening and horticulture wasn’t for them or who had never been given the opportunity to be part of this community.

Nature can be a powerful source of comfort, confidence and connection for young people, particularly in urban settings where green space can feel limited. The YoungMinds Garden shows how shared green spaces can support mental wellbeing and help young people build a sense of community and belonging. We’re proud to support not only the garden at Chelsea Flower Show, but its relocation to Newham in East London, where it will continue to be shaped by young people and provide a lasting space for the community to connect, learn and thrive through nature.

For further information and for interview requests please contact press@youngminds.org.uk or call 0203 861 2072.

Methodology

Sonder conducted a survey with young people (aged 16-25) in April 2026.

Young people N=1500

15 min online survey

Topics covered: Community, time spent with others, time spent in public green space, barriers to accessing public green space, mental health.

About YoungMinds

YoungMinds is the UK’s leading charity fighting for young people’s mental health.

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For free advice and support for parents, call our helpline on 0808 802 5544.

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About Bupa Foundation

Bupa Foundation is a charity helping to create healthier communities.

To support the creation and maintenance of urban community green spaces, Bupa Foundation Green Community Grants are open for applications from 1-30 June 2026.

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