Women Connect
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Between work, family, busy schedules and endless notifications, meaningful friendships can sometimes take a back seat.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to remind you of something important: friendship and connection aren't extras in life; they’re play a powerful role in our mental well-being.
Humanity is built for connection. Meaningful relationships help us manage stress, feel emotionally supported, and create a sense of belonging and safety. Strong friendships can even help protect against anxiety, depression and loneliness.
And while technology has made it easier than ever to stay “connected,” many people still feel isolated.
“Someone might interact with people online all the time but still feel incredibly lonely,” said Sabrina Knerr, LICSW, a mental health provider with Methodist Community Counseling Program.
Real connection looks different than casual interaction or social media engagement. It involves emotional safety, vulnerability, consistency and feeling genuinely seen by another person.
That doesn’t mean friendships have to be perfect or time-consuming.
Sometimes, being consistent is more important than how often you connect.
If you’re feeling disconnected right now, Knerr recommends starting small:
- Reach out to someone you’ve been thinking about.
- Schedule the next coffee date before leaving the current one.
- Invite a friend along for everyday activities like walks or errands.
- Join a group, volunteer opportunity, or activity where connection happens naturally.
“The goal isn’t to solve loneliness overnight,” Knerr shared. “It’s to create a small moment of connection.”
During Mental Health Awareness Month, it's a reminder for all of us that friendship isn’t just nice to have; connection is part of caring for ourselves, too.
The Importance of Connection: A Q&A with Sabrina Knerr, LICSW
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While our social networks may be expanding, the warmth, depth, and genuine closeness that come from real friendships often seem to be missing.
Several factors may be contributing to this disconnection — families and friends living farther apart, more remote work, increased reliance on technology, and the lasting effects of isolation following the pandemic.
As a result, many of us are spending more time communicating digitally and less time connecting in person.
Social media can strengthen existing relationships and help people find community, but it can also create the illusion of connection without emotional closeness.
Passive scrolling and constant comparison often leave people feeling more disconnected. More intentional and meaningful engagement tends to have a more positive impact on emotional well-being.
The small moments in a relationship often add up and make the relationship stronger. Think of an inside joke you have with a family or friend—a small moment in time that has stuck with you throughout the friendship.
Connection doesn’t always require hours of free time. Small, consistent interactions matter:
- Send a quick text or voice memo.
- Schedule your next get-together before leaving.
- Combine friendship with routines like workouts, walks or errands.
Deeper connection often begins with vulnerability.
Start by asking thoughtful questions and sharing honestly about yourself. Moving beyond surface-level conversation can help build trust and emotional closeness over time.
Building friendships can feel uncomfortable at first, but taking small social risks often leads to stronger and more meaningful relationships.
Friendship and connection are essential to our well-being.
Meaningful relationships can act as a buffer against stress, anxiety, loneliness and depression. Building and maintaining meaningful connection requires vulnerability, effort and discomfort, but those relationships can become one of the strongest protective factors for mental well-being.