{"$schema":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/data/page.schema.json","formatVersion":"1.1","id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health","path":"/community/social-health","title":"Social Health","description":"Explore belonging, friendship, and the connections that shape life with others.","family":"Topic community","language":"en-US","access":{"audience":"custom-shared-preview","indexable":true},"provenance":{"contentCompleteness":"page","sourceUrl":null},"authors":[],"dates":{},"images":[{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-17229.webp","alt":"People play basketball together on an outdoor court, including a player using a wheelchair."},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/editorial-247/3548.webp","alt":"A group of older adults enjoys time together outdoors.","width":1200,"height":630},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/qa246/editorial-11972.webp","alt":"Two people embrace in a bright room.","width":1000,"height":563},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-11755.webp","alt":"A caregiver and older woman smile together in a garden.","width":1200,"height":800},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-17079.webp","alt":"A young adult and an educator smile during a conversation.","width":1200,"height":800},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/answers/i-have-a-hard-time-making-friends-with-other-guys-20261003.webp","alt":"Three adults playing musical instruments together.","width":1000,"height":667},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/answers/20-year-old-female-no-friends-depressed-what-should-i-do-20261003.webp","alt":"Students connecting outdoors on a leafy university campus.","width":1000,"height":667},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/perspective-20261004/but-you-can-choose-your-friends.webp","alt":"Three adult friends of different backgrounds laughing softly together around an outdoor cafe table in a leafy courtyard, candid documentary framing, warm earth-tone clothing, relaxed connection","width":1200,"height":800},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/perspective-20261004/grokked-being-seen-heard-and-known-for-who-you-are.webp","alt":"Two adults listen attentively to each other on a garden bench.","width":1200,"height":800}],"sections":[],"references":[],"relatedReading":[],"links":[{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/","label":"Home"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community","label":"Community"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health?topic=Relationships#browse","label":"Relationships"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health?topic=Support#browse","label":"Support"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health?topic=Well-being#browse","label":"Well-being"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health?topic=Family#browse","label":"Family"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health#library","label":"Library"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health#answers","label":"Conversations"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health#blog","label":"Perspectives"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/social-health","label":""},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/social-health","label":"What is Social Health?"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/relationships-support","label":""},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/relationships-support","label":"The Importance of Supportive Relationships"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/aging-and-socializing-an-important-connection","label":""},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/aging-and-socializing-an-important-connection","label":"Social Health and Aging"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/adolescent-social-development","label":""},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/adolescent-social-development","label":"Adolescent Social Development"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/i-have-a-hard-time-making-friends-with-other-guys","label":""},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/i-have-a-hard-time-making-friends-with-other-guys","label":"Why do I have such a hard time making friends with other guys?"},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/20-year-old-female-no-friends-depressed-what-should-i-do","label":""},{"url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/20-year-old-female-no-friends-depressed-what-should-i-do","label":"Lonely and depressed. 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href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community\">Community</a></li><li><span aria-current=\"page\">Social Health</span></li></ol></nav><div class=\"topic-community\"><header class=\"community-hero hub-entry-hero\"><div class=\"hub-entry-copy\"><p class=\"community-eyebrow\">Community</p><h1>Social Health</h1><p>Explore belonging, friendship, and the connections that shape life with others.</p><form id=\"topic-search\" class=\"search-island\" role=\"search\" action=\"/community/social-health\" method=\"get\" aria-label=\"Search Social Health\"><div class=\"search-field\"><label class=\"visually-hidden\" for=\"topic-query\">Search Social Health</label><input id=\"topic-query\" name=\"q\" type=\"search\" placeholder=\"Search Social Health\" maxlength=\"150\" required></div><button class=\"search-button\" type=\"submit\">Search</button></form><div class=\"suggested\" aria-label=\"Topics in this community\"><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health?topic=Relationships#browse\">Relationships</a><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health?topic=Support#browse\">Support</a><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health?topic=Well-being#browse\">Well-being</a><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health?topic=Family#browse\">Family</a></div></div><img class=\"community-hero-image\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-17229.webp\" alt=\"People play basketball together on an outdoor court, including a player using a wheelchair.\" loading=\"eager\"></header><nav class=\"community-section-nav\" aria-label=\"On this community page\"><a data-division=\"library\" href=\"#library\">Library</a><a data-division=\"answers\" href=\"#answers\">Conversations</a><a data-division=\"blog\" href=\"#blog\">Perspectives</a></nav><section class=\"community-section\" id=\"library\"><div class=\"community-section-heading\"><h2>Library</h2><p>A place to begin, understand, and go deeper.</p></div><div class=\"community-resource-grid\"><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/social-health\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/editorial-247/3548.webp\" alt=\"A group of older adults enjoys time together outdoors.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Library</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/social-health\" title=\"What is Social Health?\">What is Social Health?</a></h3><p>Learn how social health supports mental and physical well-being, strengthens relationships, and promotes meaningful connection.</p></article><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/relationships-support\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/qa246/editorial-11972.webp\" alt=\"Two people embrace in a bright room.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Library</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/relationships-support\" title=\"The Importance of Supportive Relationships\">The Importance of Supportive Relationships</a></h3><p>Learn how building supportive relationships can significantly improve both mental and physical health, and strengthen overall well-being.</p></article><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/aging-and-socializing-an-important-connection\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-11755.webp\" alt=\"A caregiver and older woman smile together in a garden.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Library</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/aging-and-socializing-an-important-connection\" title=\"Social Health and Aging\">Social Health and Aging</a></h3><p>Discover how meaningful social connection can support memory, reduce dementia risk, and improve emotional health as we age.</p></article><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/adolescent-social-development\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-17079.webp\" alt=\"A young adult and an educator smile during a conversation.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Library</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/adolescent-social-development\" title=\"Adolescent Social Development\">Adolescent Social Development</a></h3><p>Explore how social and emotional development in adolescence affects relationships and technology use.</p></article></div></section><section class=\"community-section\" id=\"answers\"><div class=\"community-section-heading\"><h2>Conversations</h2><p>Real questions and professional responses from our Answers archive.</p></div><div class=\"community-resource-grid\"><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/i-have-a-hard-time-making-friends-with-other-guys\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/answers/i-have-a-hard-time-making-friends-with-other-guys-20261003.webp\" alt=\"Three adults playing musical instruments together.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Conversation</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/i-have-a-hard-time-making-friends-with-other-guys\" title=\"Why do I have such a hard time making friends with other guys?\">Why do I have such a hard time making friends with other guys?</a></h3><p>A man links difficulty making male friends to childhood exclusion and interests that differ from those common in his community.</p></article><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/20-year-old-female-no-friends-depressed-what-should-i-do\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/answers/20-year-old-female-no-friends-depressed-what-should-i-do-20261003.webp\" alt=\"Students connecting outdoors on a leafy university campus.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Conversation</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/20-year-old-female-no-friends-depressed-what-should-i-do\" title=\"Lonely and depressed. How do I start connecting with others?\">Lonely and depressed. How do I start connecting with others?</a></h3><p>A college student describes loneliness, low confidence, and recurring depression despite strong grades.</p></article></div></section><section class=\"community-section\" id=\"blog\"><div class=\"community-section-heading\"><h2>Perspectives</h2><p>Ideas and experiences that offer another point of view.</p></div><div class=\"community-resource-grid\"><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/blog/but-you-can-choose-your-friends\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/perspective-20261004/but-you-can-choose-your-friends.webp\" alt=\"Three adult friends of different backgrounds laughing softly together around an outdoor cafe table in a leafy courtyard, candid documentary framing, warm earth-tone clothing, relaxed connection\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Perspective</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/blog/but-you-can-choose-your-friends\" title=\"You Can Choose Your Friends\">You Can Choose Your Friends</a></h3><p>Discover the difference between family and friendship dynamics, as old friendships offer comfort and relaxation without the obligations and tensions of family.</p></article><article class=\"community-resource\"><a class=\"community-resource-image\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/blog/grokked-being-seen-heard-and-known-for-who-you-are\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img class=\"\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/perspective-20261004/grokked-being-seen-heard-and-known-for-who-you-are.webp\" alt=\"Two adults listen attentively to each other on a garden bench.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\"></a><p class=\"community-kind\">Perspective</p><h3><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/blog/grokked-being-seen-heard-and-known-for-who-you-are\" title=\"GROKKED True Recognition and Belonging\">GROKKED True Recognition and Belonging</a></h3><p>Discover the importance of being fully seen, heard, and known in relationships. Learn about grokking and understanding another's consciousness.</p></article></div></section><section class=\"community-related\"><h2>Connected communities</h2><div><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/relationships\">Relationships</a><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-determinants\">Social Determinants</a><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/emotional-health\">Emotional Health</a></div></section><section class=\"community-support\"><div><h2>Find support that fits you.</h2><p>Explore people and care options near you.</p></div><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/therapists\">Find care</a></section></div>","text":"HomeCommunitySocial HealthCommunitySocial HealthExplore belonging, friendship, and the connections that shape life with others.Search Social HealthSearchRelationshipsSupportWell-beingFamilyLibraryConversationsPerspectivesLibraryA place to begin, understand, and go deeper.LibraryWhat is Social Health?Learn how social health supports mental and physical well-being, strengthens relationships, and promotes meaningful connection.LibraryThe Importance of Supportive RelationshipsLearn how building supportive relationships can significantly improve both mental and physical health, and strengthen overall well-being.LibrarySocial Health and AgingDiscover how meaningful social connection can support memory, reduce dementia risk, and improve emotional health as we age.LibraryAdolescent Social DevelopmentExplore how social and emotional development in adolescence affects relationships and technology use.ConversationsReal questions and professional responses from our Answers archive.ConversationWhy do I have such a hard time making friends with other guys?A man links difficulty making male friends to childhood exclusion and interests that differ from those common in his community.ConversationLonely and depressed. How do I start connecting with others?A college student describes loneliness, low confidence, and recurring depression despite strong grades.PerspectivesIdeas and experiences that offer another point of view.PerspectiveYou Can Choose Your FriendsDiscover the difference between family and friendship dynamics, as old friendships offer comfort and relaxation without the obligations and tensions of family.PerspectiveGROKKED True Recognition and BelongingDiscover the importance of being fully seen, heard, and known in relationships. Learn about grokking and understanding another's consciousness.Connected communitiesRelationshipsSocial DeterminantsEmotional HealthFind support that fits you.Explore people and care options near you.Find care","wordCount":222},"representations":{"html":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health","json":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/data/community/social-health.json","jsonLd":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/data/community/social-health.ld.json"},"schema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/#organization","name":"MentalHealth.com","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/#website","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/","name":"MentalHealth.com","inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/#organization"}},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Community","item":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Social Health","item":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health"}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health#primaryimage","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-17229.webp","contentUrl":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/library/editorial-17229.webp","width":1200,"height":800,"encodingFormat":"image/webp","caption":"People play basketball together on an outdoor court, including a player using a wheelchair."},{"@type":"ItemList","@id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/social-health#items","numberOfItems":8,"itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"What is Social Health?","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/social-health"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Importance of Supportive Relationships","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/relationships-support"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Social Health and Aging","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/aging-and-socializing-an-important-connection"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Adolescent Social Development","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/adolescent-social-development"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"name":"Why do I have such a hard time making friends with other guys?","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/answers/i-have-a-hard-time-making-friends-with-other-guys"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":6,"name":"Lonely and depressed. 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