The Quiet Power of Community: Mental Health, Migration & Belonging
While many things are said about mental health, one of the less popular topics is “cultural factors.” Many immigrants find themselves in unexpected mental states as a result of the significant differences between the culture of their home country and the culture of the host country. This difficulty is particularly evident in migrations between the Middle East and Europe. In social psychology, these significant differences are referred to as collectivist culture vs. individualist culture. After the initial culture shock caused by this difference, some people may be left with a lingering feeling. A feeling of not belonging.
Small Rituals, Big Ripples: Stoop Coffee
In “Stoop Coffee: How a Simple Idea Transformed My Neighborhood”, Patty Smith and her partner Tyler share a simple but heartwarming story about building community right outside their front door in San Francisco. Instead of meeting at a café, they started setting up a few folding chairs on their stoop and invited neighbors over for coffee and casual chats. What started as a small get-together soon turned into a weekly ritual that brought more and more people together.
Over time, this laid-back gathering grew into something bigger. It included impromptu hangouts, neighborhood celebrations, and even mini dance parades. It wasn’t formal or organized, it just happened because people kept showing up, talking, laughing, and slowly building trust.
Their street transformed into what sociologists call a “third space”, a place that isn’t home or work, but somewhere in between, where real connections can grow. The magic of “Stoop Coffee” lies in how ordinary it is: just sitting around, saying hi, being present. And yet, it sparked something powerful. Friendship, empathy, and a sense of belonging that many people in cities often miss.
The Evidence: How Community Protects Mental Health
When I first read the story of “Stoop Coffee”, I was still in Germany. It had been several months since my last visit to Türkiye. Here, the only community I have is online. So until my visit back to Türkiye at the end of June, I did not realise how much I yearned for that “third space”. And how much it was going to help my state of mental health.
According to “Associations between loneliness and perceived social support and outcomes of mental health problems: a systematic review”, a research article published at BMC Psychiatry, a major longitudinal review of 34 studies found that low perceived social support at baseline strongly predicts greater symptom severity, poorer recovery, and worse functioning in depression and anxiety disorders. And among older adults in Germany and the U.S., loneliness was robustly linked to clinical levels of depression and anxiety, independent of age or socio-economic status (National Academies of Sciences et al.).
Peer Support Interventions
Peer support programs have proven to be powerful tools in the mental health field, often viewed as effective as traditional therapy. According to one report, 59% of individuals with mental health challenges rated peer support as equally valuable to conventional therapy, while 82% said it helped them feel less isolated (“Peer Support Statistics”). Additionally, 79% reported fewer crises or hospitalizations, and peer involvement was associated with a 25–30% reduction in readmission risk. Beyond the clinical outcomes, 80% of participants described a stronger sense of community and belonging. Peer support also contributed to 73% reporting increased empowerment and 91% feeling more motivated (“Peer Support Statistics”).
What these numbers point to, more than anything, is that healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in community. The relational fabric built through peer support provides not just care, but connection. When people are offered space to be heard, seen, and supported by others who’ve walked similar paths, they experience more than symptom relief: they begin to rebuild trust, resilience, and a sense of shared belonging. In this way, peer support is not just a tool of recovery—it’s a testament to the transformative power of human connection.
Protective Power of Social Support
Community connection not only feels good but also protects mental health. A large-scale study published in Nature Mental Health found that individuals with higher perceived social support experienced about 55% lower odds of moderate to severe depression during the early months of the COVID19 pandemic (Choi et al.). Among types of support, emotional/informational support and positive social interaction showed the strongest protective effects, with adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of 0.42 and 0.43, compared to 0.63 for tangible support. These statistics illustrate how multidimensional social support, from peer engagement to empathetic interaction, can dramatically reduce the likelihood of depression.
The Quiet Strength of Togetherness
The journey from cultural disconnection to genuine belonging reveals a simple truth: mental health thrives in community. Immigrants navigating the often challenging divide between collectivist and individualist cultures may feel adrift, longing for connection that bridges the gap of difference and isolation. Stories like Patty Smith’s “Stoop Coffee” remind us that profound change can begin with small, everyday acts of presence and openness such as setting out folding chairs, sharing a cup of coffee, and saying hello. The power of these rituals lies in their ability to create a “third space” where empathy, trust, and friendship naturally flourish. It shows connection needn’t be institutional. Backed by compelling research, from reductions in depression risk to decreased hospital readmissions, the evidence is clear: social support is not a luxury but a vital shield for mental well-being. Peer support programs and community connection foster resilience, motivation, and empowerment, highlighting that healing is not a solo endeavor but a shared human experience. In an age often marked by digital isolation and cultural divides, reclaiming the quiet power of community may be one of the most effective remedies for mental health challenges we have. Sometimes, all it takes is a couple of chairs, a pot of coffee, and a little openness.
ResourcesChoi, K. W., Lee, Y. H., Liu, Z., Fatori, D., Bauermeister, J. R., Luh, R. A., Clark, C. R., Brunoni, A. R., Bauermeister, S. & Smoller, J. W. (2023). Social support and depression during a global crisis. Nature Mental Health, 1(6), 428-435. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220‑023‑00078‑0Linder, J. (2025). Peer support statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/peer-support-statistics/National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2020). Social isolation and loneliness in older adults: Opportunities for the health care system. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25663Smith, P. (2025). Stoop coffee: How a simple idea transformed my neighborhood. Supernuclear. https://supernuclear.substack.com/p/stoop-coffee-how-a-simple-idea-transformedWang, J., Mann, F., Lloyd-Evans, B., Ma, R., & Johnson, S. (2018). Associations between loneliness and perceived social support and outcomes of mental health problems: A systematic review. BMC Psychiatry, 18, 156. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1736-5