Community Connectedness Matters
By Debbie Woodford & Delphine Ang
A first study by the National University of Singapore, in collaboration with the Education Ministry and the Institute of Mental Health, was conducted recently to estimate the prevalence of mental health conditions of youth as well as to gauge their emotional resilience. The results show that one in three youth in Singapore has reported internalising mental health symptoms like sadness, anxiety and loneliness.
Emotional wellbeing is crucial. Humans are social creatures We need a sense of connection to thrive, without it we can feel isolated and lonely.
A 75-year-old Harvard study which followed the lives of two groups of men over 75 years and it follows the Baby Boomer children to understand how childhood experience spanning across decades affects health and wellbeing in middle age.
According to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, who is the director of the 75-year-old study of adult development, the number factor of happiness and wellbeing is the quality of your relationships. "Good relationships keep us healthier and happier".
"No man is an island" - John Donne
We are not meant to do life alone. We need one another.
Neuroscience studies show that our brains are wired to be social. The mirror neurons in the human brains mimic the actions and emotions we observe in others and help increase our empathy level. A significant lack of human connection can cause depression.
Do you know that when we are stressed, our brains release oxytocin (also commonly known as the love hormone, the cuddle hormone) which are also our natural stress resilient hormone in great amounts, priming us to seek out social support from others?
When we build our community and increase our connection with one another, we not only strengthen our emotional resilience, we also learn better and easier.
Community connectedness is the key to a happier, healthier and smarter life.
