Press release
Pride of place: highlighting the mental health benefits of a happy hometown
Celebrating the best of Kirkcaldy can help to transform some residents’ perceptions of the town, a University of Dundee expert has said.
Published on 23 April 2026
Staff from the University’s Faculty of Health are to host a major community event to highlight the wellbeing benefits of taking pride in living in the Lang Toun.
The free event, Let’s Talk About…Celebrating our Community, takes place at the University’s campus in Kirkcaldy on Wednesday 29 April, from 18:00-20:30.
Paul Smith, a lecturer in Mental Health at the University, said, “A happy home is something we all seek, but that extends beyond the walls that we inhabit.
“Our sense of home is tied to our community - the people and places that we engage with daily. All of this is hugely important for our wellbeing.
“Kirkcaldy, like many other towns throughout the country, has undergone significant change in recent decades. This has undeniably resulted in a disconnect from the Kirkcaldy some people remember and the town they aspire to live in today.”
Kirkcaldy was once a vibrant manufacturing town with a bustling High Street that prompted its “Lang Toun” nickname. However, as was the case in many communities, the traditional town centre saw its fortunes decline as out of town retail developments and online shopping emerged.
While some industry still survives and investment has been made in the town’s promenade and leisure facilities, many residents continue to call for greater investment to regenerate the community.
Paul added, “We live in uncertain times, where global events may jade us and impact on our wellbeing. That makes it even more important to be happy in our homeplace.
“What is evident, both anecdotally and online, is that the people of Kirkcaldy are passionate about the future of their town. Everybody wants to see it thrive.
“This event will bring people together and tap into that sense of goodwill. This gives us an opportunity to celebrate all that is good about our community, the positives of living and working here, and collectively improve how we view our hometown, something which undoubtedly improves our mental health.”
Let’s Talk About…Celebrating our Community takes place at the University of Dundee campus, Forth Avenue, Kirkcaldy, on Wednesday 29 April, from 18:00-20:30. Free places can be booked via Eventbrite.