Has a person ever warmly held a door open for you? How do you feel after playing with friends? And what would you say is your favourite family memory? These questions have one thing in common: they're all about connecting with people. "Let's Connect" is the theme of this year's Children's Mental (心理的) Health Week. It improves mental health by building healthy social connections.
Humans naturally connect with others, whether that's family, friends or people in our community. Healthy connections give people energy and support we all need people to celebrate and share our worries with. Social connections aren't just about mental health; they improve physical health too, helping us to live a long life. Research suggests being lonely can slowly harm your health. Humans' need for connection is different from person to person, but what's important is not how many relationships you have, but how good your relationships are.
Then how to connect with others? "You can reach out and connect with people in so many different ways," says Julia Clements of Place2Be, the organizer behind Children's Mental Health Week. You can connect in person or online, with your friends, parents, teachers or classmates. It's not just people, either. "Some people feel connected with their pets or in nature," says Clements. She advises making time to build more connections through actions as well as words. Being kind, listening to others and trying new experiences are all good tools.
Everybody may feel lonely sometimes and refuse to talk to others. Keep in mind that connections change—some become stronger, while others stop. "Remember that there are always people that care for you," advises Clements. She says it's important to tell someone you trust about how you are feeling, or safe organizations such as Childline or Shout. They can help, whether you're looking to form new connections or repair a strained (紧张) relationship that is important to you.
