social support
Help from others
Social support is the network of help, comfort, and resources that people receive from their relationships with others.
This includes emotional support like empathy and encouragement, practical assistance such as help with tasks or money, and informational guidance like advice or expertise.
Research consistently links strong social support to better physical and mental health outcomes.
After the diagnosis, her social support network helped her through treatment.
Bond of mutual affection
- companionshipState of having company
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
- bondingForming close connections
- confidantTrusted keeper of secrets
ally · peer · buddy · mate · belonging · attachment · trust · loyalty
Managing under strain
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- self-esteemOne's sense of worth
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
wellbeing · morale · hope · healing · adjustment · adaptation · mental health · therapeutic
Sharing another's emotions
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- consolationComfort during distress
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
encouragement · understanding · nurture · caring · solace · kindness · warmth · affection
Comfort and prosperity
- charityVoluntary aid for others
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- NGOIndependent charitable organization
- nonprofitOrganization serving public good
caseworker · counseling · hotline · shelter · food bank · government assistance · subsidy · grant
Collective of connected people
- neighborhoodResidential area nearby
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- collectiveJointly organized group
- cooperativeJointly operated enterprise
self-help group · circle · network · village · tribe · cohesion · inclusivity · volunteerism
Support or aid given
- helpAssistance given
- aidSupport given freely
- reliefEasing of distress
- caregivingAttending to dependents
respite · childcare · eldercare · meal train · errand · transportation · housework · resource
friendship
Bond of mutual affection
- companionshipState of having company
- camaraderieGoodwill among companions
- bondingForming close connections
confidant · ally · peer · buddy · mate · belonging · attachment · trust · loyalty · reciprocity
coping
Managing under strain
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- self-esteemOne's sense of worth
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
recovery · wellbeing · morale · hope · healing · adjustment · adaptation · mental health · therapeutic · psychosocial
empathy
Sharing another's emotions
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- consolationComfort during distress
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
sympathy · encouragement · understanding · nurture · caring · solace · kindness · warmth · affection · tenderness
welfare
Comfort and prosperity
- charityVoluntary aid for others
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- NGOIndependent charitable organization
nonprofit · caseworker · counseling · hotline · shelter · food bank · government assistance · subsidy · grant · safety net
community
Collective of connected people
- neighborhoodResidential area nearby
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- collectiveJointly organized group
cooperative · self-help group · circle · network · village · tribe · cohesion · inclusivity · volunteerism · outreach
assistance
Support or aid given
caregiving · respite · childcare · eldercare · meal train · errand · transportation · housework · resource · guidance
- social developmentfriendship, belonging, sharing, turn-taking, peer groups
- social skillsconversation, sharing, helping, listening, manners
- coping mechanismsrepression, denial, projection, sublimation, rationalization
- mood boostersantidepressants, mood stabilizers, SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs
- health disparitieshealth disparities, healthcare disparities, ethnic disparities, health outcomes, healthcare equity
- cultural psychiatrywindigo, running amok, cultural competence, pining, somatization
social supportsocial isolation
Lack of human contact
isolation · loneliness · alienation · disconnection · abandonment
social supportneglect
Failure to provide care
rejection · abandonment · betrayal · exploitation · sabotage
social supportsocial exclusion
Denial of societal participation
ostracism · marginalization · persecution · hostility · bullying
support, social, society, sociable, antisocial, socialize, unsocial, sociability, societal