The importance of social connections

: Last Updated: 10 July 2024; Hits: 552

A crowd of people in the shape of Australia.

1-minute read

Connections matter. Strong ties with family, friends and the community provide happiness, security, support and a sense of purpose. Being connected to others is important for our mental and physical well-being and can be a protective factor against anxiety and depression.

A sense of belonging, whether inside our own family or in our friends and chosen families help to keep us healthy. It is about feeling loved, cared for, and appreciated by them, and this can be measured by having more than one person to turn to for help and support when we need it.

The World Health Organisation has a decade-long research and advocacy plan for social and emotional well-being and health from 2021-2031.

World Health Org Social isolation and loneliness among older people

Source: Word Health Organization - Reducing social isolation and loneliness among older people

It is helpful to identify the features of social and emotional well-being.

They are:

Happiness
Optimism
Satisfaction with life
Perseverance
Emotional Regulation ( our ability to control our negative emotions)
Sadness
Worries

Source: SA Department for Education 2018

Tips to improve your social connectedness

Commit to doing at least one ten-fifteen-minute thing for yourself each day. This could be a quick walk outside, a ten-minute reading break, and a cup of tea while breathing slowly.
Write down three things you are grateful for
Tell someone why you appreciate them
Laugh
Try something new
Check-in by voice or in person with a family member, friend or neighbour
Practice your faith in the community
Reach out for help if you need it

You can get help from Beyond Blue, click here

You can phone a counsellor at Beyond Blue at 1300 224 636 (local call charges apply).

You are not alone. See statistics on the Experience and incidence of loneliness in Australia.