Social Wellness
This involves having relationships with friends, family, and the community, and having an interest in and concern for the needs of others.
Reach Out and Connect with Someone
- Talk to a friend or supporter—social support relieves stress and can even keep you healthy.
- Hug a pet! Spending time with animals can be calming and make you feel less alone. Taking care of a pet can give you a sense of purpose.
- Spend time around other people in your community.
- Brooks et al. (2018): The power of support from companion animals…
- How social support contributes to psychological health
- Find local groups focused on your interests. You can search for various types of groups on https://www.meetup.com
- Get to know your neighborhood. Search by your address (you do have to submit your email address) at https://nextdoor.com/
- Find a volunteer opportunity on the United Way website (click on “volunteer”)
- Visit your local animal shelter or human society to help out and make some furry friends
More resources for social wellness
Getting Support
This list of tips can help you Expand Your Social Circle
Find some new ideas for Connecting With Others
Giving Support
Using these Kindness Ideas can help you support others in many ways
Building Connections
Use this Social Wellness Checklist to Make Connections with others
Use this Social Wellness Checklist to Build Healthy Relationships
This list of tips will help you build skills in Communicating Respect
Resources for Wellness in Eight Dimensions
Learn the Eight Dimensions of Wellness (poster) | SAMHSA
Eight Dimensions of Wellness Daily Plan | UIC Solutions Suite for Health and Recovery
While we list online resources, we recognize that websites often change and move . If a link doesn’t work, try a search using the title. We do not endorse any specific websites—they are suggestions for beginning your search for what works for you. We do not accept funding or other support from the resources listed.