Community Healing Through Connection
After a traumatic event, there are many ways to support members of our community like volunteering, donating, and advocating. One of the most proven ways we can support our family, friends, and neighbors is by building social connection. Gaining support from neighborhood groups, coming together to collectively problem-solve, and simply interacting regularly can help speed up your community’s recovery.
Here are some ways you can connect with your community to support healing for both yourself and others:
Reach out to your loved ones and do your best to make this a consistent habit. It’s amazing what regular social connection can do for you.
Return to normal routines outside of the home when possible, like walking your dog, shopping, attending religious services, and spending time outdoors. You can even take a step further and invite friends or neighbors to join you on your errands.
Rely on others from time to time. Asking your friends or neighbors for help is not reason to feel like a burden. In fact, it can give meaning and purpose to those who may feel disconnected.
Attend community gatherings and memorials – This can be a deeply healing experience to mourn and process difficult feelings as a community.
Get involved in organizations like interest clubs, classes, faith-based groups, sports teams, and volunteer groups to find community and meaning. If you’re feeling extra social, try keeping an eye out for people who seem to feel out of place and let them know they’re welcome and supported.
Socialization after a traumatic event can feel daunting. What do I even say? What if I make them feel worse? You’re not alone in this feeling. Here are some tips for reaching out with care:
Remember to listen – connection is a way to both gain and give social support. Make sure you are sincerely showing interest in others as much as you share your own thoughts and feelings in conversation.
Starting a conversation with neighbors and other community members you don’t know can be intimidating. Check out some conversation starters for ideas on how to strike up a shared interest.
It’s an honor to be trusted with someone’s difficult feelings, but it’s also a responsibility. Review some tips on how to be a positive support to someone’s mental health.
Sources:
Purdue University - A little help from your friends is key to natural disaster recovery, Purdue research study suggests
Marc Gelkopf, Rony Berger, Avraham Bleich, Roxane Cohen Silver. Protective factors and predictors of vulnerability to chronic stress: A comparative study of 4 communities after 7 years of continuous rocket fire. Social Science & Medicine, Volume 74, Issue 5, Pages 757-766 (2012).
Mental Health America - Social Support: Getting and Staying Connected
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Help for People Affected by Disasters and Mass Violence
Last updated on August 2, 2024