Social wellness is the ability to develop a network of relationships focused on trust and respect while engaging in meaningful interactions. Creating a supportive community can benefit students and provide a sense of belonging.
For more information to share with students, feel free to use this slide set: Social Wellness PowerPoint
Educators can create a supportive environment that benefits students and provides a sense of connection and belonging.
Strategies to consider:
- Use polling or open-ended collaborative discussion boards, breakout rooms, or assignments to allow students the chance to share their feelings, identity stressors, and recognize that others are feeling similarly to them to promote inclusivity and comradely amongst cohorts. Integrate group discussions, challenges, assignments, and friendly competitions into assignments.
- Ask student(s) at the beginning of class to, “tell me something good that happened this week” or “tell me about something you are looking forward to” to foster genuine connections between their peers.
- Implement games to encourage cohort classmate awareness such as “Two Truths & a Lie” at the beginning of the semester. Students can post a picture of themselves on a discussion board with two truths and one lie about themselves that they feel comfortable sharing. The rest of the cohort will guess which fact is a truth or a lie learning more about their peers outside of the classroom. Review 2-3 students post at the beginning of each class.
- Create opportunities for students and faculty to connect with one another. Offer students an opportunity to post/share pictures of people/events important to them.
- Host open forums or one on one meetings (in-person or online). The meetings should be student-led and focus on the student’s chosen topic.
- Consider opportunities to include social connectedness when using strategies in the other dimensions of wellness.
- Promote participation in community events, student groups, volunteer opportunities and professional organizations for engagement in service work and leadership activities.
- Foster peer support by encouraging students to help each other solve complex clinical problems.
- Create peer partnerships (or peer-to-peer support) offer an opportunity to improve well-being, express empathy, offer support.
Being able to be who you are while being engaged with others is a hallmark of social wellness.