Whole-Person Wellness blog: Celebrate social wellness this July
Strengthening connections for whole-person health during Social Wellness Month
July invites warmth, radiance, and vibrant energy, making it the perfect time to celebrate Social Wellness Month. It is a great opportunity to take a moment to reflect on how you can nurture your current relationships and build new connections.
The Social Dimension is a pivotal part of the eight Dimensions of Wellness in improving our health. Studies have shown that isolation (a lack of social wellness) is associated with an increased risk of health issues, including heart disease and stroke.
Two of the Sanctuary Model’s Seven Commitments are specifically dedicated to social wellness: Social learning and social responsibility. Social learning commits us to respect the ideas and lived experiences of others, and social responsibility fosters accountability and teamwork among us.
Social wellness also helps us to promote July’s Sanctuary Theme, the commitment to nonviolence, and all four types of safety: physical, psychological, social, and moral. When we are truly present with others, we experience one another as whole people who deserve bodily integrity, mental and emotional stability, social acceptance, and moral centeredness.
Of course, the other four commitments in our Sanctuary model – emotional intelligence, democracy, open communication, and growth and change – also enhance social wellness. Each commitment is deeply intertwined with every other one. To learn more about the seven commitments and Sanctuary model, click here.
The Wright Center has numerous built-in ways for staff to engage socially at work. Consider joining a session of the Whole-Person Wellness Workgroup, and/or take advantage of community events inside and outside of The Wright Center. If you have concerns about time away from your desk, ask your colleagues and supervisor. Taking turns is a great way to ensure everyone gets a chance to be engaged.
How might you commit to exploring your own social wellness? Check out this toolkit from the National Institutes of Health to learn more: Social Wellness Toolkit.
Thank you from the Whole-Person Wellness Team!
Meaghan Ruddy, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Enterprise Wellness and Resiliency, Assessment and Advancement, and Chief Strategic Research and Development Officer
Shannon Osborne, Project Manager
Allison LaRussa, Associate Vice President of Health and Wellness
The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education
