07/01/2025
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
As someone who’s lived with bipolar disorder since 1996, I know firsthand the powerful impact social connections have on mental health. Whether you’re dealing with a mental health condition or supporting someone who is, understanding this relationship can be life-changing.
Let me share what research and experts say about how social interaction shapes our mental well-being, and provide practical tips for building stronger connections.
Dr. Mark Timlin, a mental health GP at headspace, explains: “70% of mental health issues are related to a lack of connection and acceptance.” This statistic highlights just how crucial social bonds are for our well-being.
When we interact with others, our brains release feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. These natural mood boosters help fight depression and anxiety while promoting overall mental wellness.
Research shows that people with strong social connections have better mental health outcomes and live longer, healthier lives. In fact, studies suggest that social isolation can be as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Dr. Timlin further explains: “Lack of social interaction can breed negative self-belief around feeling alienated, isolated, socially alone. It can lead to issues of feeling either abandoned, deprived emotionally, feelings of being unlovable or even vulnerable to harm and illness.”
It’s not just about feeling good – social interaction affects our bodies too. Research shows that strong social ties can:
These benefits accumulate over time, creating a protective effect against various health conditions. Regular social interaction can even help slow cognitive decline as we age.
Nick Tebbey, National Executive Officer for Relationships Australia shares: “When people engage in social interaction, they feel more resilient because they know they have a support network at their fingertips.”
This support can be as simple as a neighbour bringing in your bin or as significant as having someone to talk to during tough times. Tebbey emphasises the importance of setting realistic expectations: “Not every relationship is always smooth sailing. If we’re realistic with our expectations, we’re less likely to be hurt.”
He also talks about the importance of personal boundaries: “If you don’t think about what you need, you put your own needs as secondary to someone else. Whether it’s a time of mental health or otherwise, then you can set up a protection. You’ve got a much better chance of staying true to [your boundaries] if you have a sense of what these things are.”
Building resilience through relationships involves:
You don’t need hundreds of friends to benefit from social interaction. As Tebbey notes: “Relationships are entirely subjective to each person. Do I need one person or a whole group around me? Do you have the energy to put yourself into one relationship or many?”
Focus on building meaningful connections that:
Roger Donnelley, CEO of The SALT Foundation, puts it simply: “It helps people’s mental health and wellbeing to be around other people.”
This is especially true for people living with mental health conditions that may qualify as psychosocial disabilities under the NDIS. Community involvement can provide:
Tebbey suggests practical ways to build community connections: “If someone does want to reach out and make better relationships, look at where those relationships exist. Joining clubs, reaching out to different interest groups. What do I enjoy? Those sorts of groups – it can’t be overstated how beneficial they are.”
The NDIS can provide various supports for people with psychosocial disabilities, including:
Your NDIS plan can be tailored to your specific needs and goals, particularly around building and maintaining social connections. Support coordinators can help you:
Social media can be a useful tool for connection, particularly for those who find face-to-face interaction challenging. However, it shouldn’t completely replace in-person contact. Use it to:
Dr. Timlin emphasises: “A healthy connection is about meeting needs and being reciprocal… healthy connections are reciprocal, respectful and interdependent.”
He adds: “Unhealthy connection could be where the connection is coercive or controlling, but equally, you can get connections which are dependent or enmeshed.”
Remember to:
Social interaction profoundly affects mental health through multiple pathways – biological, psychological, social, and spiritual. Building and maintaining healthy relationships is as important as diet and exercise for overall well-being.
Mental health diagnosis requires professional assessment by qualified healthcare providers like:
• GPs
• Psychiatrists
• Clinical psychologists
The process typically starts with your GP, who can refer you to specialists if needed.
Yes, mental health conditions can be diagnosed using standardised criteria. Healthcare professionals use tools like:
• DSM-5
• Clinical interviews
• Psychological assessments
Medical tests to rule out other conditions
Diagnosis involves:
1) Comprehensive medical history
2) Physical examination
3) Mental health evaluation
4) Discussion of symptoms
5) Possibly additional tests or assessments
Remember: Self-diagnosis can be misleading and potentially dangerous. Always consult healthcare professionals for proper diagnosis and treatment. They have the training and experience to accurately assess symptoms and recommend treatment options.
If you’re concerned about your mental health, start by talking to your GP. They can help determine if you need specialised support and guide you through the process of accessing appropriate care, including NDIS services if eligible.
You can:
• Offer to help research mental health professionals
• Accompany them to appointments if wanted
• Help them prepare questions for healthcare providers
• Provide emotional support during the process
• Assist with practical tasks like scheduling
• Respect their privacy and confidentiality
• Learn about support services
Remember: Supporting someone through diagnosis requires patience, understanding, and respect for their autonomy. Sometimes the best support is simply being present and listening without trying to fix everything.
If you’re seeking support for mental health concerns, remember that professional help is available. The journey starts with a single step, whether that’s talking to your GP, reaching out to a friend, or contacting a mental health support service. You don’t have to face it alone.
Daniel G. Taylor has been writing about the NDIS for three years. His focus has been on mental health and psychosocial disabilities as he lives with bipolar disorder I. He’s been a freelance writer for 30 years and lives across the road from the beach in Adelaide. He’s the author of How to Master Bipolar Disorder for Life and a contributor to Mastering Bipolar Disorder (Allen & Unwin) and he’s a mental health speaker.
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