Social support is an essential component of mental health. Supportive family networks, friends, teachers, and trustworthy people in general can improve the patient’s quality of life and reduce the risk of developing various disorders, as they make a person not feel lonely and helpless.

Specifically, social support can:

Alleviate the symptoms and reduce the effects of the disease

Boost self-esteem and increase optimism

Decrease loneliness and the sense of isolation

Overcome hardships and adjust to everyday life

Cope with mental health issues and the stresses related to them

Provide general advice and promote healthy lifestyle choices

Thus, it can be said that the presence of a strong and healthy social network is, indeed, crucial for the individual’s mental wellbeing, though, it may not be enough for treating some serious conditions that require professional medical attention.