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Mental health remains a national priority, as highlighted by Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s latest recommendations identifying social connectedness as a national public health concern.
In his report, Dr. Murthy highlights the importance of social connections to indicators of community health and well-being, the impact of disconnection, and recommendations for increasing social connections.
Dr. Murthy provides practical items for higher education practitioners to promote social connections among students in their roles as educators and individuals.
Things necessary: Social connectedness, as defined in the report, includes the interactions, relationships, roles, and sense of connectedness that individuals, communities, and societies may experience, and the extent to which individuals are socially connected. will appear. This depends on factors such as the structure, function, and quality of the interaction. .
Young people report having the highest levels of loneliness among U.S. adults and spending the least amount of time in person with friends, which has been exacerbated by COVID-19-related lockdowns.
The report says a lack of social connection poses risks to an individual’s health and longevity, and is associated with an increased risk of premature death, illness, illness, anxiety, depression and dementia.
Lack of social connection is as dangerous to a person’s health as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, even more than obesity or physical activity levels.
How university can help: Educators can foster social connections across campus in several ways.
- Develop a strategic plan. Make connections and social skills part of your institution’s strategic plan and implement benchmark tracking based on your ideas. Educational institutions should regularly provide opportunities and spaces for students to learn social skills and build relationships.
- Add social connections to your health curriculum. Teach students the role that social connections can play in health courses.
- Use social education techniques. Build social connections in the classroom using collaborative learning projects and other peer support techniques.
- We foster a supportive campus. Equitable classroom management, mentoring, and peer support groups can change the entire atmosphere of an organization centered around social connections.
How individuals can help: On an individual level, faculty, staff, and administrators can foster social connections on campus for their own benefit and for the success of their students and colleagues.
- Invest time in relationships. Consistent, frequent, and high-quality engagement fosters richer connections. Dr. Murthy recommends daily activities to achieve this goal.
- Minimize distractions during conversations. To improve the quality of time you spend with other students, avoid multitasking when interacting with students and colleagues.
- Be responsive, supportive, and grateful. Relationship satisfaction and social capital increase as individuals exhibit these behaviors and as others become more likely to mirror these practices.
- Look for opportunities to serve and support. This can be done within the immediate sphere of the individual or beyond to give back to the community in a positive and constructive way.
Do you have any health tips that might help others promote student success? Please tell me about it.