Types of social support
Benefits of social support
Assessing your social support network
Making a plan for building social support
Taking action to build social support
100

This type of social support involves having someone to share your feelings, thoughts, and experiences with.

What is emotional support?

100

 This is one of the benefits of social support that involves reducing the negative effects of stress on your health and well-being.

What is stress buffering?

100

This is the term used to describe the people in your life who provide you with different types of social support, such as emotional, informational, or instrumental support.

What is your social support network?

100

This is the first step for making a plan for building social support, which involves deciding what you want to achieve or improve in your social life.

What is setting a goal?

100

This is one of the ways to take action to build social support by joining a group or organization that shares your interests, values, or goals.

What is joining a club?

200

This type of social support involves having someone to give you advice, feedback, or guidance on how to deal with problems or challenges.

What is informational support?

200

This is one of the benefits of social support that involves enhancing your positive emotions and outlook on life.

What is mood boosting?

200

 This is the tool that you can use to list the people who are part of your social support network and the type of support they provide.

What is a social support map?

200

This is the second step for making a plan for building social support, which involves breaking down your goal into smaller and more manageable steps.

What is making an action plan?

200

This is one of the ways to take action to build social support by offering your time, skills, or resources to help others or a cause that you care about.

What is volunteering?

300

This type of social support involves having someone to help you with practical tasks, such as transportation, money, or household chores.

What is instrumental support?

300

This is one of the benefits of social support that involves increasing your sense of self-worth and confidence by receiving positive feedback and encouragement from others.

 What is self-esteem boosting?

300

This is the scale that you can use to rate how satisfied you are with your social support network, from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 10 (very satisfied).

What is a satisfaction scale?

300

This is the third step for making a plan for building social support, which involves identifying and overcoming any barriers or challenges that might prevent you from achieving your goal.

What is addressing obstacles?

300

This is one of the ways to take action to build social support by reaching out to someone who you would like to get to know better or reconnect with, and inviting them for a casual conversation or activity.


  • What is inviting someone for coffee?



400

This type of social support involves having someone to do fun or meaningful activities with, such as hobbies, exercise, or socializing.

What is companionship support?

400

This is one of the benefits of social support that involves promoting your recovery from substance use and mental health challenges by learning from others’ experiences and coping skills.

What is recovery enhancing?

400

This is the term used to describe the people who are not part of your social support network, but who you would like to get to know better or reconnect with.

What are potential sources of support?

400

This is the fourth step for making a plan for building social support, which involves keeping track of your progress, rewarding yourself for your efforts, and making changes if needed.

What is monitoring and evaluating?

400

This is one of the ways to take action to build social support by attending a meeting or a workshop where you can meet other people who have similar goals or challenges as you.

What is joining a self-help group?

500

This type of social support involves having someone to affirm your values, beliefs, or decisions, and boost your confidence.

What is validation support?

500

This is one of the benefits of social support that involves having a positive influence on your health behaviors, such as eating well, exercising, or avoiding substances.

What is health promoting?

500

This is the term used to describe the people who are part of your social support network, but who have a negative or harmful impact on your well-being, such as being critical, abusive, or enabling substance use.

What are sources of stress?

500

This is the fifth step for making a plan for building social support, which involves sharing your goal and plan with someone who can support you and hold you accountable.

What is getting feedback?

500

This is one of the ways to take action to build social support by expressing your appreciation and gratitude to someone who has been supportive or helpful to you.

What is saying thank you?