Community Spirit is Thriving. Now’s the Time to Expand Your Support Network.
In amidst the Coronavirus news stories are glimmering tales of community spirit. Young people delivering groceries to their older neighbours. Global online choirs belting out The Beatles on webcams. Local groups set up to assist those in quarantine.
This surge in community action and ‘we are in this together’ spirit is helping to highlight the importance of growing our support networks.
What is a support network?
As the name suggests, a support network is a collection of people who we can turn to for support. They encourage us and offer emotional support, advice, and companionship. For a lot of us, our network is mainly made up of family, friends and colleagues.
But over the past few weeks, as cases and measures have ramped up across the world, we’re seeing people branching out. We are finally meeting our neighbours and building relationships. We are chatting to strangers online. We are joining new groups and forming systems to help others in need. And, in most cases, we’re having fun while doing this (bonus!). There’s a huge amount of collective action taking place and as a consequence, many of us are feeling an increased sense of connection and belonging.
Why is it important to our mental health?
As humans, we are naturally sociable beings. The level of socializing we engage in varies from person to person, but we all need some level of human contact. Support networks have been shown to play a role in managing our mental health. Opening up to someone can help others understand our actions and thoughts, it can help feelings of isolation that are often associated with anxiety and depression and can allow us to hear from others who may be going through similar situations.
Having different people in our support network allows us to hear alternate perspectives. Our parents might be able to give us advice on how they managed to change careers. Our friends might offer their own experiences on moving to a new city and how to settle in and our local community could open up a whole new suite of experiences!
Think about what strengths the people in your current support network offer. Is there anything missing? If so, perhaps its time to add to your network.
How to expand your support network during times of lockdown
- Is there an activity you enjoy or been meaning to get into? There are plenty of ways to meet new faces and enjoy a bit of crafting, trivia or dancing online. If you’re nervous about going along by yourself, ask a friend to come along for the first session.
- If you’re looking for advice, explore online self-help forums moderated by mental health practitioners. This is a great way to hear from others with a lived experience and gain perspective on your current feelings.
- And when we can get back outside…start chatting to your local barista! Daily contact with a new face can help increase feelings of connection and offers a new perspective from your existing support network.
Support networks work both ways. By actively participating we’re not only likely to feel part of a new community, but we’re also likely to feel a new sense of purpose by being there for others.
