UW Combined Fund Drive

July 20, 2021

Practicing Social Wellness

Social wellness means nurturing your body, your mind and your relationships.

Social Wellness Month is celebrated every July to promote social support and increase national awareness surrounding the power of social interaction and its long-term benefits. While recognition month may be over, social wellness practices are valuable year-round.

Social wellness can be defined in many ways and encompass different qualities depending on the individual; for some it may mean cultivating one’s relationship with themselves or with others, and for others it may entail both providing and receiving social support.

Practicing social wellness can be emotional, physical, or informational; regardless, the practice can enhance quality of life for those on both the giving and receiving end. Developing positive social habits and a social wellness toolkit can ultimately help one stay healthier mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Several studies have found that individuals with a strong social network live longer lives, cope better with stress, and maintain good health. A foremost study by Dr. Joseph Pratt in 1905 found that conducting a “support group” for tuberculosis patients to provide education about hygiene relative to their illness yielded evidence that psychological support has a profound impact on physical health and wellbeing.

Relationships with ourselves and others are vital parts of everyone’s lives, and there are many ways to nurture them, whether that been finding a new hobby, spending extra time with loved ones, or starting a new routine.

For those interested in engaging with social wellness practices, there are many ways to get involved and take action:

Learn

Read a book

Listen to a podcast

Support

Provide social support in your local community by giving to one of the UWCFD’s member organizations actively working to improve the social wellness of impacted communities:

Chad’s Legacy Project is committed to the advancement of mental health education and innovations in the evaluation and treatment of mental illness.

Community House Mental Health Agency provides mental health services and low-income housing to residents of King County.

CHC: Creating Healthier Communities strives to create powerful connections between American workplaces, their employees and the trusted health charities of their choice to improve the lives of people living with a disability or chronic disease.

UPOWER is a nonprofit based in Seattle was founded in 2013 provides fitness, health, and wellness classes to underserved youth in King County at no cost to them. Our goal is to work toward equity and inclusion by evening the playing field for youth who don’t have access to organized sports/fitness opportunities which have significant health and emotional benefits.

Act

Volunteer! Investing your time into a good cause will not only make you feel good, but also help you meet people with similar passions and interests. Explore volunteer opportunities in the local Seattle community here.

Exercise! Meet new people while doing good for your body.

– Contributed by UWCFD intern Katerina Dang