JACKSON, Wyo. — For this month’s Winter mental health topic, the Teton County Health Department is highlighting relationships and friendships. Read more below and visit the bilingual web-based platform, CredibleMind to reflect on behavior patterns, take an assessment and access hundreds of self-treatment tools and resources. Any community member who makes a profile and takes a CredibleMind self-assessment will be eligible to enter a monthly raffle for local prizes throughout the winter months.

Healthy relationships with others help boost feelings of self-worth and sense of purpose. A lack of healthy social support and connection can lead to loneliness and other health concerns. Yet, maintaining relationships and making new friends can be challenging! Time, effort and good communication are essential to developing strong and fulfilling relationships.

What are some ways I can nurture my relationships, social connections or community to increase my happiness?

  • Give the gift of time: Nurture the relationships that are important to you by giving them quality time. Start by deciding to whom you will give your time. Notice how it feels when you give more of your time to the people that are important to you in your life.
  • Make community part of your life: Consider ways to build community into your life on a regular basis. This could be catching up regularly with friends,volunteering, joining a community event or signing up for a free community class.
  • Share encouragement: When talking with a friend or loved one, try showing interest, enthusiasm and positivity about any good news they may have. Make good eye contact to show them you’re engaged and interested, express positive emotion by smiling, make enthusiastic comments and ask constructive questions to find out more about the positive aspects of their experience.

Communication Tip: Use “I-Statements”: The next time you find yourself in a debate or argument with your partner, friend or family member say, “I feel (this emotion) when you (do this).” Using an “I-statement” will help you identify an observed behavior—as opposed to assuming the other’s intention—and allows you to express the way the behavior makes you feel.

“I-statements” are just one communication tool and it’s important to remember that even when using I-statements, the conversation may still be difficult or challenging. The other person might not react calmly to what you’re saying. Remember that you can only control your own self-expression, not theirs.

Take an assessment to learn more about the Strength of Your Resilience Network and explore hundreds of mental wellbeing resources at www.teton.crediblemind.com.

This programming has been made possible through generous funding from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole’s Behavioral Health Initiatives Grant.