BHS Highlights
July is Social Wellness Month!
In 2023, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy published "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: An Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community." According to the advisory, which drew upon decades of research, "Loneliness is associated with greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity."
Since then, research has continued to demonstrate the important of social connection to overall wellness. Here are some ideas to strengthen social connection for individuals, parents, and caregivers:
- Invest time in nurturing your relationships through consistent, frequent, and high-quality engagement with others. Take time each day to reach out to a friend or family member.
- Reduce practices that lead to feelings of disconnection from others. These include harmful and excessive social media use, time spent in unhealthy relationships, and disproportionate time in front of screens instead of people.
- Be responsive, supportive, and practice gratitude. As we practice these behaviors, others are more likely to reciprocate, strengthening our social bonds, improving relationship satisfaction, and building social capital.
- Help children and adolescents develop strong, safe, and stable relationships with supportive adults like grandparents, teachers, coaches, counselors, and mentors.
- Model healthy social connection, including constructive conflict resolution, spending time together, staying in regular contact with extended family, friends, and neighbors, setting time aside for socializing away from technology or social media and participating in community events.
At BHS, our framework is based around five principles: Resiliency, Recovery, Reintegration, Reunification, and Reducing Recidivism. Each of these five principles supports social connection and wellness for the individuals and families our dedicated staff serve.
For additional information or resources, please call BHS at 281-238-3079 or email at bhsdept@fortbendcountytx.gov