Maintaining a social support system can be highly beneficial for your mental health. It helps you cope with stressful situations, promote emotional and physical wellness gains, and generally enhance the quality of life.
Knowing when you need assistance can be challenging, but never too late. Having someone by your side during recovery makes all the difference for a smoother journey.
Friends and Family
Spending time with family and friends has been known to reduce depression and anxiety levels, making it a strong predictor of good mental health. A PLOS ONE study revealed that adults who had close friendships were less likely to suffer from high stress or depression than those without such connections.
In addition to physical touch, having people in your life that you trust and admire can have a tremendous effect on how you feel. They can give you a hug, listen intently when discussing issues that bother you, or assist with practical matters.
Family and friends may be able to provide some support during the early stages of mental illness, but it’s essential to remember that they cannot replace professional treatment. If you or someone you care about is struggling with depression or another mental health issue, consult “How do I know when to help?” above for guidance on what steps should be taken next.
Co-Workers
Mental health is a pressing concern that often affects workplaces. Stress from economic transformations and other pressures is one factor contributing to poor mental health, as are external influences such as family or home life.
People with mental health disorders deserve the same respect as any other employee. Laws must be put in place that guarantee them access to psychiatric help without fear of discrimination or termination.
Many companies provide confidential support for employees struggling with mental illness through an employee assistance program. This resource is invaluable in aiding workplace mental health initiatives.
When you observe signs of mental health in a coworker, it’s wise to be proactive and talk with them about it. Let them know how their condition is interfering with their work and suggest ways they can be supported – such as therapy, team approaches or other resources – through these conversations.
Mentors
Employees with mentors in their workplace tend to experience better mental health outcomes. They tend to be more motivated and goal-oriented, which makes them less prone to stress or anxiety at work.
They also benefit more from peer and supervisor support than those without mentors, helping them feel less alone in their struggles and decreasing feelings of isolation.
Mentors are experienced or knowledgeable individuals who can guide and support the growth of a mentee. Mentors offer life experiences as well as technical knowledge.
Mentors help their mentee develop skills and reach their career objectives, providing guidance as they progress. Furthermore, mentors enable mentees to reach their ambitions through tangible milestones while offering advice when obstacles appear.
Mentors who provide effective mentoring are knowledgeable, experienced, and have a deep emotional connection to their mentee. They offer sympathetic support and honest criticism, push the mentee beyond what they feel comfortable with, as well as emotional encouragement.
Community
When dealing with mental health issues, having a support network of people around you can be especially beneficial. Not only does it help relieve stress and anxiety, but it can also prevent feelings of isolation or depression.
Many people discover that being part of a vibrant community can enhance their sense of wellbeing and enhance quality of life. Communities offering safe gathering places, affordable housing, and jobs all foster positive social interactions.
Though the definition of community varies, most describe it as a group of people sharing certain traits or qualities such as identity (like race), affinity (like shared activity), and affiliation (like old friends). A community can also be defined by its location – where members live, work, or play – or culture – members may speak the same language, possess certain archetypes from cultural stories or have shared values. These shared characteristics form the social bonds which bind individuals together.