support system
People who help
A support system is a network of people who provide emotional, practical, or financial help during difficult times: After the diagnosis, she leaned heavily on her support system.
The term emphasizes interconnection—friends, family, therapists, or colleagues functioning together rather than in isolation.
It extends to institutional structures: The university has a strong support system for first-generation students.
- networkInterconnected system
- inner circleExclusive group of confidants
- safety netProtection against failure
- backboneVertebral column, or courage
- foundationUnderlying support structure
rock solid · friends · family · community · lifeline · pillar · anchor · shoulder · shoulder to cry on · lean on · therapy · resources · care · helping hand · tribe · circle · help · encouragement
- connectionslink, links, connect, connection, tie
- helpingaid, assist, give a hand, help, helping hand
- mental healthpsychiatry, psychotherapy, mental illness, psychiatrist, therapist
- breakupheartbreak, closure, moving on, rebound, rebounds
- adversitystruggle, hardship, challenge, obstacle, difficulty
- bondsbond, corporate bond, corporate bonds, government bond, municipal bond
support systemisolation
Complete separation from others
social isolation · abandonment · alienation · neglect · estrangement
support systemhostile environment
Surroundings posing active threats
abusive relationship · dysfunctional family · obstacle · hindrance · burden
support, system, supports, supported, supporting, supporter, supporters, supportive, unsupported