Prioritize connections to improve your health
Back to Search“Research shows that the power of connection is important to our well-being. Connection can take many forms: connection to yourself, connection to family and friends, and connection to your community,” says Keith Rew, public health nurse. “We know that the past few years have contributed to feelings of isolation and loneliness. The task of rebuilding connections is a community effort. We encourage everyone to visit durham.ca/connection for tools and resources to help improve your well-being and deepen your sense of belonging.”
The Connected Communities: Healthier Together report from the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario noted that Canadians with a strong sense of community belonging—regardless of their income—experience significant health benefits. They feel better about themselves and are more likely to make healthy choices like exercising, eating well, drinking moderately, and following their health care providers’ advice—all of which lead to better health.
There are layers of connections, such as: connection to self, connection to others, and connection to community.
- Connection to self can include strategies such as mindfulness and meditation to improve your well-being.
- Connection to others can be as simple as planning a lunch with a friend, or joining a class or new activity to meet people with shared interests.
- Connection to community can include volunteering or making new connections within your faith-based or cultural community.
To learn more, speak to your health care provider and visit durham.ca/connection for strategies, tools and resources to help you stay connected.
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For more information, please contact the Health Department.
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