Humans are innately social. We all need alone time, but we also thrive during our quality time with family and friends. With human interaction being such an important aspect of overall well-being, it’s no surprise social support can have many positive effects on our mental health. Reaching out to your family or a friend can help you feel connected to others, provide help when struggling with a problem, or support when feeling down. Sharing your thoughts and feelings with someone you trust can help you feel better, even if that trusted someone doesn’t have a solution to your problem. These supportive relationships can also help you feel less alone. Research also shows that having an active social support network can also help you maintain physical and mental health gains you’ve made, which can help you work toward a lasting healthy lifestyle.
Not all social support is the same. You may find that you turn to specific people for some problems or situations but not others. Social support can come from a variety of sources, including family, friends, colleagues, support groups, and community organizations. There are several types of social support that individuals can receive from their social network. These include:
Emotional support: This is the most common type of social support and involves providing comfort, empathy, and understanding to someone experiencing a difficult time. An example of emotional support includes venting to a close friend and receiving words of encouragement.
Instrumental support: This type of support involves providing practical assistance to someone in need. An example of instrumental support may include a group of neighbors helping to run errands or cook meals when you are ill.
Informational support: This type of support involves providing advice, guidance, or information to someone in need. Examples of informational support include offering advice on a particular situation, sharing resources related to a particular issue, or providing information about treatment options for a particular health condition.
Companionship support: This type of support involves providing social interaction and companionship to someone who is feeling lonely or isolated. Spending time with a family member engaged in a social activity is an example of companionship support.
While the type of social support that we need will vary depending on our immediate situation, having access to a variety of different types of social support can be helpful in managing overall stress.
Another benefit of having a network of social support is improving the effectiveness of mental health treatments. For example, having a strong support network increases the likelihood of adhering to treatment regimens and subsequently better mental health outcomes.
Overall, social support is a critical component of good mental health. Building and maintaining strong relationships with others can help individuals manage stress, cope with difficulties, and lead happier, healthier lives.
Self-help information and information from the internet is useful, but it is not a substitute for professional advice. If you are currently in treatment or in therapy, please consult your therapist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional.
