Wellbeing and social connection can generate “an upward spiral” by reinforcing one another
“Sunshine Calls” help depression and loneliness, study finds
6 Reminders That Healing After Sexual Violence Is Possible (and 6 More Messages of Support)
Americans more than ever have no friends– Another data point for my post from last week.
We’ve all seen this, and we’ve asked the same questions: Life throws you a curveball in the form of a breakup, an illness, or a change in your work situation. Suddenly, the behaviors, thoughts, and feelings you thought you had left behind come rushing back. You begin to doubt your self-improvement. Was your healing just…
It’s Time to Stop Blaming Men for Their Mental Health Woes Male suicide rates in Wales ‘a national emergency’ Those with mental illness need more programs not just more slogans ‘Like hearing their voices’: Researcher analyzes suicide notes to save lives What It Was Like Doing the ’10-Year Photo Challenge’ as a Childhood Trauma Survivor…
Social media, generally, gets a bad rap. Yes, the way many of us use it only increases anxiety and loneliness, because we are flipping through someone’s vacation pictures and comparing them to our day at work, but we can, and should, be using it to communicate. We have the most powerful tools we’ve ever had…
Yes, this time of year is different from the rest of the year. Many of us are more likely to travel, spend more time with family, and have a different schedule because of the various days off. Despite that, the advice for handling mental health challenges isn’t really that different, is it? “Managing mental illness…
I’m not a researcher but these two facts make me wonder if there’s not something we can do.
If we have a list of “nudges” that can help people feel like they belong or help educate people about things like safety plans, etc. and we don’t know who is at risk and which nudge might help them, maybe we should just continue to generally be kind to the people around us. That means trying to understand what makes them feel supported, connected, etc., and doing those things consistently. It also means noticing if a “nudge” has the opposite effect, and trying something different instead.
Help people feel like they belong, educate people about prevention resources, help them stay connected to family and friends, involve them, accept them, etc.
Help your friends and loved ones by communicating the kinds of things that help you. When you feel disconnected or like you are a burden, what can they do to keep you connected? What things do they do that make it worse?
When we don’t talk about these things we only make it worse, and we only continue to lose more people. We have to learn how to have these conversations. We have to be open to listening to the people closest to us and connecting to them without stigma and judgment. The researchers will keep working to learn more about prevention, but in the meantime simply caring about each other and being honest with each other is the best tool we have. We should use it.
