From my own experience, I honestly think social support plays a bigger role than we like to admit, especially here in the UK where many of us are taught to just “keep calm and carry on”. A few years ago I moved cities for work and suddenly didn’t have my usual circle around me. I was functioning on the surface, but emotionally I felt very isolated, and that’s when low mood crept in. What helped wasn’t one big conversation, but small, consistent connections – a weekly call with my sister, a walking group, even casual chats at work. I read an article recently that explained this quite well, especially how emotional and practical support reduce long-term risk rather than just fixing things in a crisis: The Role of Social Support in Preventing Depression

It also made me realise support isn’t only about talking feelings all the time. Sometimes it’s someone noticing you’ve gone quiet, or just being there without judgement. Personal coping skills matter, of course, but they seem much stronger when you’re not completely on your own.