Building connections is essential for mental wellbeing. Relationships and friendships brings love, a sense of belonging, provides support and increases feelings of self-worth. People with stronger and wide-ranging relationships are happier, healthier and live longer.
To build and strengthen connections with others:
![](https://glow-prod-fi.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/fi/public/khsmentalhealthtoolkit/uploads/sites/12713/2021/08/06115411/family-e1628247336536-300x112.jpg?X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEAgaCWV1LXdlc3QtMSJHMEUCIDCUmjWGgZrTNv7YBHvbqWkCM9ipwXf%2FcBTRXPdyB2EoAiEAnk6zG1kxvko9oVGQ4KM%2FL6gBh5lQgOZTMaOR6IZbtmsqwQUI4f%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARAFGgwyNzM1NzAxOTU0MzMiDMGXqznzvktlknYppyqVBafWs6QqN9HIKaYerwMCQVD94k1akKUL6s6nqt6i0vQDwqYiYBKDv8%2BR%2BTNF1ww7sq1yMGU4NH2EYldiQQdzf8lvVVH2IFeoDDKUUK6aRE3jZrliUnKlAsuasI%2BN0fgXeHLPjvAW5csCybytUdh%2FCaKeBKpUYqlUqpd2AFu65G4QNZjWUDbsp7ozcnCwAlhLiw3H3PR6vdM%2FHcgNkIo09Ymwk6OpL9NQAqzFUacffbTuLinzKe17udUaZhTDtlfrwxhdvvh1JBwQgdQeZiWUzJejKp9cWsbKjfL%2FZCLsS5yGX6tYtrRE1zBSGSxGx0xuMF5UgowtLH0vjuI4uUFZFMZIKVlqNEEOlU26ptCoY2iCMeH5gA6blBD3YphONe4leaYm8TCY1O1PfpJTRAzQvYv0%2F3imY6TibaIaDq%2BabXCTVkhmRpuOuX3wkudpR6lmgM6k2Eue1ROLDnrZlX3vnd3BPSSX0B19Y5Q0a%2FQeJ8c7BGdC1R1njQ%2B4w6Jld63bjbI2mPFUfUtFGJ73U%2FgFV6%2BHeTZsal6qkMpy485VEXz1foDmiL2jZjEtqIk61yCjFO2HCZ8xkJylbJsADADFu7vjR5FSAok0fdWcwkQKgGf1eXKLsMLk9dU72l6olJGXcz7QXEFxSBb%2FwvaM2%2F34BT8UXrFoQZG%2F4gnmnljKdo4UdNHbniLg%2BEchiJwJVRe%2Fs8w3Tmn%2BAAk%2FOL1IkXROIBiuHles6YGT%2FPLKwKK374h59hx2MiTNogP4P%2BtO2tD%2Bb%2B4EA8hNWDfASbWT0hpKM88dyBPgZVeFhDS6WLMZVsG8Rb0oZLXRHMN3YHhb2XwjqoSKvUVoqLNusljatJ3dIs7rYFbvn20ajZfj6q7dAI%2B1str1Q%2Bwwt%2BSQtQY6sQFCcHVN5gGNIwzxUo3ry7%2Bm7LDWszNL0ecwtJTvmyLYRBMESDYLu9AMpNyoE3uFVpN7QIG%2FnXBXNLRl7yqh1HjjgsQut535b9RVpbxQ%2BbSXo8enFf3EWX6GAr4dsSE3Aaixn4cGEVsI2iEdela2Sl6PT7aQxMjQ2QfrvfS0VwSHiwXBErVHr1xIOoSqr0C3cTFS3DX1j3Kpg9kMYX8yLWbnSkvEiDZaIvJv2Ey0JiIIymU%3D&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAT7MQN47UUJBNOFGP%2F20240726%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240726T233558Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=900&X-Amz-Signature=065ce06e5f1d6d08cdba28091bcbcc48453c65c3df95333940cb0844164d9b3b)
1) Regularly spend time with your family. When you can meet in person, put down the your phone and technology to build stronger relationships.
![](https://glow-prod-fi.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/fi/public/khsmentalhealthtoolkit/uploads/sites/12713/2021/08/06115602/friends-e1628247388157-300x104.jpg?X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEAgaCWV1LXdlc3QtMSJHMEUCIDCUmjWGgZrTNv7YBHvbqWkCM9ipwXf%2FcBTRXPdyB2EoAiEAnk6zG1kxvko9oVGQ4KM%2FL6gBh5lQgOZTMaOR6IZbtmsqwQUI4f%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARAFGgwyNzM1NzAxOTU0MzMiDMGXqznzvktlknYppyqVBafWs6QqN9HIKaYerwMCQVD94k1akKUL6s6nqt6i0vQDwqYiYBKDv8%2BR%2BTNF1ww7sq1yMGU4NH2EYldiQQdzf8lvVVH2IFeoDDKUUK6aRE3jZrliUnKlAsuasI%2BN0fgXeHLPjvAW5csCybytUdh%2FCaKeBKpUYqlUqpd2AFu65G4QNZjWUDbsp7ozcnCwAlhLiw3H3PR6vdM%2FHcgNkIo09Ymwk6OpL9NQAqzFUacffbTuLinzKe17udUaZhTDtlfrwxhdvvh1JBwQgdQeZiWUzJejKp9cWsbKjfL%2FZCLsS5yGX6tYtrRE1zBSGSxGx0xuMF5UgowtLH0vjuI4uUFZFMZIKVlqNEEOlU26ptCoY2iCMeH5gA6blBD3YphONe4leaYm8TCY1O1PfpJTRAzQvYv0%2F3imY6TibaIaDq%2BabXCTVkhmRpuOuX3wkudpR6lmgM6k2Eue1ROLDnrZlX3vnd3BPSSX0B19Y5Q0a%2FQeJ8c7BGdC1R1njQ%2B4w6Jld63bjbI2mPFUfUtFGJ73U%2FgFV6%2BHeTZsal6qkMpy485VEXz1foDmiL2jZjEtqIk61yCjFO2HCZ8xkJylbJsADADFu7vjR5FSAok0fdWcwkQKgGf1eXKLsMLk9dU72l6olJGXcz7QXEFxSBb%2FwvaM2%2F34BT8UXrFoQZG%2F4gnmnljKdo4UdNHbniLg%2BEchiJwJVRe%2Fs8w3Tmn%2BAAk%2FOL1IkXROIBiuHles6YGT%2FPLKwKK374h59hx2MiTNogP4P%2BtO2tD%2Bb%2B4EA8hNWDfASbWT0hpKM88dyBPgZVeFhDS6WLMZVsG8Rb0oZLXRHMN3YHhb2XwjqoSKvUVoqLNusljatJ3dIs7rYFbvn20ajZfj6q7dAI%2B1str1Q%2Bwwt%2BSQtQY6sQFCcHVN5gGNIwzxUo3ry7%2Bm7LDWszNL0ecwtJTvmyLYRBMESDYLu9AMpNyoE3uFVpN7QIG%2FnXBXNLRl7yqh1HjjgsQut535b9RVpbxQ%2BbSXo8enFf3EWX6GAr4dsSE3Aaixn4cGEVsI2iEdela2Sl6PT7aQxMjQ2QfrvfS0VwSHiwXBErVHr1xIOoSqr0C3cTFS3DX1j3Kpg9kMYX8yLWbnSkvEiDZaIvJv2Ey0JiIIymU%3D&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAT7MQN47UUJBNOFGP%2F20240726%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240726T233558Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=900&X-Amz-Signature=1f07ec37a067649a23de30b5800dc5e9674bb0d69dd88846bc9e4e8ebe9cab1c)
2) Arrange to meet up with friends.
![](https://glow-prod-fi.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/fi/public/khsmentalhealthtoolkit/uploads/sites/12713/2021/08/06115738/facetime-e1628247657450-300x126.jpg?X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEAgaCWV1LXdlc3QtMSJHMEUCIDCUmjWGgZrTNv7YBHvbqWkCM9ipwXf%2FcBTRXPdyB2EoAiEAnk6zG1kxvko9oVGQ4KM%2FL6gBh5lQgOZTMaOR6IZbtmsqwQUI4f%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARAFGgwyNzM1NzAxOTU0MzMiDMGXqznzvktlknYppyqVBafWs6QqN9HIKaYerwMCQVD94k1akKUL6s6nqt6i0vQDwqYiYBKDv8%2BR%2BTNF1ww7sq1yMGU4NH2EYldiQQdzf8lvVVH2IFeoDDKUUK6aRE3jZrliUnKlAsuasI%2BN0fgXeHLPjvAW5csCybytUdh%2FCaKeBKpUYqlUqpd2AFu65G4QNZjWUDbsp7ozcnCwAlhLiw3H3PR6vdM%2FHcgNkIo09Ymwk6OpL9NQAqzFUacffbTuLinzKe17udUaZhTDtlfrwxhdvvh1JBwQgdQeZiWUzJejKp9cWsbKjfL%2FZCLsS5yGX6tYtrRE1zBSGSxGx0xuMF5UgowtLH0vjuI4uUFZFMZIKVlqNEEOlU26ptCoY2iCMeH5gA6blBD3YphONe4leaYm8TCY1O1PfpJTRAzQvYv0%2F3imY6TibaIaDq%2BabXCTVkhmRpuOuX3wkudpR6lmgM6k2Eue1ROLDnrZlX3vnd3BPSSX0B19Y5Q0a%2FQeJ8c7BGdC1R1njQ%2B4w6Jld63bjbI2mPFUfUtFGJ73U%2FgFV6%2BHeTZsal6qkMpy485VEXz1foDmiL2jZjEtqIk61yCjFO2HCZ8xkJylbJsADADFu7vjR5FSAok0fdWcwkQKgGf1eXKLsMLk9dU72l6olJGXcz7QXEFxSBb%2FwvaM2%2F34BT8UXrFoQZG%2F4gnmnljKdo4UdNHbniLg%2BEchiJwJVRe%2Fs8w3Tmn%2BAAk%2FOL1IkXROIBiuHles6YGT%2FPLKwKK374h59hx2MiTNogP4P%2BtO2tD%2Bb%2B4EA8hNWDfASbWT0hpKM88dyBPgZVeFhDS6WLMZVsG8Rb0oZLXRHMN3YHhb2XwjqoSKvUVoqLNusljatJ3dIs7rYFbvn20ajZfj6q7dAI%2B1str1Q%2Bwwt%2BSQtQY6sQFCcHVN5gGNIwzxUo3ry7%2Bm7LDWszNL0ecwtJTvmyLYRBMESDYLu9AMpNyoE3uFVpN7QIG%2FnXBXNLRl7yqh1HjjgsQut535b9RVpbxQ%2BbSXo8enFf3EWX6GAr4dsSE3Aaixn4cGEVsI2iEdela2Sl6PT7aQxMjQ2QfrvfS0VwSHiwXBErVHr1xIOoSqr0C3cTFS3DX1j3Kpg9kMYX8yLWbnSkvEiDZaIvJv2Ey0JiIIymU%3D&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAT7MQN47UUJBNOFGP%2F20240726%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240726T233558Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=900&X-Amz-Signature=c6fb2f4729e86da2c3ed36e5467d6cd598f6a367ca1eef81c67ef2d82fcd4b87)
3) Use technology to communicate with family and friends if you cannot see them in person.