Connectedness


Connectedness is the degree to which a person or group is socially close, interrelated, or shares resources with other persons or groups 1.

Social connectedness and support are two important protective factors that can help buffer the effects of risk factors on suicide. 

Connectedness can include:
  • Connectedness between individuals
  • Connectedness among family members
  • Connectedness to community organizations
  • Connection of groups to their cultural traditions and history 2.

What You Can Do to Promote Connection

Resources

Videos and Webinars
Promoting Connectedness to Prevent Suicide – Webinar developed by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Webinar presentation can be found here.

Articles
Helping Your Child Feel Connected to School – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guide for parents and families.
Strategic direction for the prevention of suicidal behavior: Promoting individual, family, and community connectedness to prevent suicidal behavior – The CDC describes ways to prevent suicide by strengthening connectedness or social bonds within and among persons, families, and communities.
Connectedness & Suicide Prevention in College Settings – Brofenbrenner Center for Translational Research at Cornell University developed this paper to define connectedness and describes the four core components of a connectedness framework.

Resources for Schools
School Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors Among Youth
Fostering School Connectedness (Administrators)
Fostering School Connectedness (Teachers)