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Build community and protect mental wellbeing

Social isolation and loneliness raise the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, anxiety and dementia according to CDC. Make social connection part of the plan, not an afterthought.

How

1. Meet your nearest neighbours early. Offer help, swap phone numbers and agree to check on each other in storms or outages.
2. Join at least one local group: a farmers' market, library, volunteer fire service, community garden or extension club.
3. Use community resources such as libraries, parks and local programmes, which CDC notes support social connection.
4. Schedule regular trips to town and visits from friends, especially in your hardest season.
5. Watch for signs of strain in each family member, including children and older adults, and talk about it at the weekly meeting.
6. Know where to find mental health support in your area, including phone services. Learn psychological first aid and keep crisis numbers in the health file (medical-23).

Do these first

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Sources

1. Health Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), accessed 2026-11

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