Community, Social support and Mental Health
- Alanis Ann Alex
- May 11
- 3 min read
We are all living in the most digitally connected world today, yet loneliness and emotional distress is on the rise. Research proves that someone may be surrounded with a wide group of acquaintances or connections and yet feel lonely.
So the answer doesn't lie in how many people we know but the quality of the relations we hold close. Thus having a higher Instagram follower count doesn't necessarily translate to the genuine sense of belonging.
But why is it important?
Decades of research shows strong ties between social support and enhanced mental health. When we feel genuinely supported, the benefits run deep.
Social support acts as a buffer against mental health challenges
It is closely linked to greater self worth and a hopeful perspective on life
Social support can meaningfully shape the path of recovery for those navigating serious mental health issues.
It rightly equips us with the strength to go through adversities
,reducing the weight of everyday stressors.
It helps us manage life's pressures , not alone but with the people who matter the most to us.
Elements of social support:
Few core elements include- engaging in friendships or peer relationships, providing emotional support, constructing meaning, offering practical advice and material assistance. Many cultures across the world have long embraced the idea that mental health and emotional well being is a shared community responsibility.
In Japan, the concept of Ikigai emphasizes on the importance of social connections and living within a supportive community. It encourages a daily structure and promotes social engagement across lifespan.
According to Ubuntu (‘I am because we are’) tradition in African cultures focusses on Identity which is collective and shared. Gestures like- shared responsibility during hardships, emotional support embedded in daily life reflects the same.
Interestingly, this sense of community-based support is not entirely foreign to us, in fact, it is deeply embedded in India's cultural fabric. For generations, the joint family system and the warmth of neighbourly bonds provided a natural, everyday form of emotional support. People did not schedule time to check in on one another, it simply happened organically, over chai, at the doorstep, or in the lanes of a shared neighborhood.
This spirit is perhaps best captured in the beloved Indian television show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, where characters like Jethalal find themselves drawn each day to a common space, not out of necessity, but out of a human need for connection. The residents of Gokuldham Society talk, laugh, argue, and show up for one another in the most ordinary of ways. And yet, it is precisely that ordinariness that makes it so powerful.
Many of us watch such moments with a quiet longing , a wish for that kind of effortless togetherness that once felt so natural. It is worth asking: have we, somewhere along the way, traded our Gokuldham moments for screen time and surface-level scrolling?
How can we strengthen our social ties?
Check your emotional battery- Somedays you may have more to give than on the other days, and that's okay.
Invest in an existing relationship- reach out to your close friends, someone you trust. Start small, maybe just a Hi!
Intentionally set aside time for social connection- do not leave it to chance or wait until loneliness creeps in.
Be selective with your commitments -you do not owe everyone your time and energy, choose quality over obligation.
Notice how people make you feel after spending time with them- energised or drained? Let that guide where you invest your social energy.
Rest between social engagements -giving yourself space to recharge is what makes the next connection feel genuinely enjoyable rather than exhausting.
Human beings are wired for connection. When that need goes unmet or is met by relationships that do more harm than good, then our mental health suffers. Recognizing the importance of genuine social support is not a sign of weakness; it is an act of self-awareness.
We all deserve relationships that uplift us, and support that truly holds us together!
References:
Amin, S. M., Ibrahim, N. F., Nazuri, N. S., & Ahmad Suhaimi, S. S. (2024). The relationship between social supports on mental health among university students in Klang Valley. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(8), 2520–2535. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i8/22301
Beggs, J. (2024). Are we in a friendshipocalypse? The Psychology of Your 20s (Substack).
Leach,J. (The Open University) Social Support for Mental Health How it might help service users access education and employment. https://www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/594142/Jonathan-Leach-presentation.pdf
Disclaimer: This blog post is meant for awareness/entertainment purposes only. It is not medical advice and one must refrain from self-diagnosing. It is in no way a substitute for therapy with a mental health professional and it is not meant to be clinical. To consult with a psychotherapist on our team, you can contact us on fettle.counselling@gmail.com.
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