The Importance of Having a Strong Social Network

I have recently been taking a communications class and today I was hit with the importance of having a strong social network. Too many people feel lonely these days. Even with the advent of technology.

According to Bevan & Sole (2014) in \"Making connections: Understanding interpersonal communication\" those that are in need the most value someone listening to them than getting advice. A strong network support comes from ongoing relationships that are maintained before, during or after a crisis. Social support is linked to good health. It improves our cardiovascular system, the immune system and our endocrine system. All of these impact our heart, blood, the ability to fight disease/ sickness and our hormones.

The ways that receiving social support impacts us for the better:

• It encourages the individual receiving the support to be more adaptive and cope with stress better.


• Social support from others can improve the health behaviors of the person in need. The individual is encouraged to live healthier by eating better, exercising and following their doctors orders.


• It helps the individual feel better psychologically which contributes to their self-esteem and their view of life.


• It can give an individual hope for the future and a deeper sense of life's purpose.

\"Social support can be looked at like a protective net that catches and holds the person in need allowing the individual a safe place to heal or cope.\" -Bevan & Sole (2014)

Being there for someone you care about can therefore assist them in maintaining your relationship with them and can also contribute to the person's improved psychological and physical health.

A part of being there for someone and being a good support for them is being a good listener. Ways of being an empathic communicator are:

• Be an active listener


• Attend to the interaction and use supportive body language


• Show them that you are sensitive to their feelings


• Put yourself in their shoes


• Ask clarifying questions


• Once you have identified the other person's feelings reply in relation to how they are feeling


• If the situation is appropriate indicate that you are willing to help


• If you dont agree with the person then respectfully disagree and aknowledge that they have a right to their opinion.

All of this shows that you have emotional intelligence too, which is needed in this world now more than ever.

A demonstration of how important this is, is a recent story that came out today from Aljazeera: How Grandmothers Fight Depression

Zimbabwe has been hit with a financial crisis; With a population of around 16 million, doctors say there are only 12 public health psychiatrists in the whole country.

Now, a group of grandmothers are using what they call \"friendship benches\" to help thousands of people suffering from mental health problems in the country.

People need to talk to someone. It helps them not only feel better emotionally but it also improves their mental and physical health.

sources:

Bevan, J. L., & Sole, K. (2014). Making connections: Understanding interpersonal communication (2nd ed.) [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/

http://www.aljazeera.com/video/news/2017/03/grandmothers-fight-depressio...

How to Get Involved

Offer support to those around you more in the way of being an active empathic listener. Put yourself in other peoples shoes. Sometimes people just want someone to listen to them rather than give them advice or lecturing them.