Join A Group You Care About

A sense of loneliness tends to precede the development of depression.

And depression often includes the symptom of loneliness along with isolation.

Since my early days as a counselor, my mentors instructed me to encourage depressed clients to get out and around people. At the very least, a friendly interaction with someone might occur and lift their mood.

It turns out that being part of a group helps to ward off depression, but it must be a group to which the person identifies and feels connected.

Multiple studies have shown that higher levels of group identification were related to lower levels of depressive symptoms.

Group membership can be a treatment intervention for depression.

In a 2013 study of over 4000 adults over the age of 50, those who were depressed and joined one group reduced their risk of depression relapse from 41 percent to 31 percent. Joining two groups reduced the risk to 21 percent. And with three groups, the risk dropped to 15 percent.

For group membership to be effective at decreasing depression, people have to closely identify with the group and feel connected to it, not just physically be around a group of people.

Groups help by offering support and a sense of purpose.

Some groups, however, do not protect. Groups that revolve around a destructive focus such as self-harm, substance abuse or a sense of victimization are groups to break away from.

Currently in my life, I am part of a group of people who work together as a team with the purpose of helping people get through emotional crises. I also am a part of online groups of handmade artists which actively support and encourage each other.

Go ahead and find your favorite group(s) and know you are contributing to your own and others’ well-being.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/depressed-try-the-social-cure/