social connections

“Creating the best possible environment for everyone to live, work, learn and play leads to a stronger sense of belonging and connection and a happier, healthier, more inclusive campus community for all.” – UBC Wellbeing

As the seasons change, our moods and behaviours can shift also. With the days getting shorter and temperatures colder, we may not be as motivated to be out and about or to maintain vibrant social circles.

The following three articles by Shepell, UBC’s Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provider, can help support you with tools to improve and maintain your social wellbeing:

• Most people know that proper nutrition, exercise, and relaxation techniques can reduce stress, but being social is just as important in maintaining overall wellbeing. Learn skills and strategies to improve the quality of your relationships with “A friend, indeed: friendship as a source of solace and support.”
• Perhaps you are in a new work environment or in a new neighbourhood. Maybe you feel the need to build your social support network. If so, check out “Building and maintaining a social support network.”
• Managing a social life with a busy schedule can be demanding. “Maintaining friendships on a busy schedule” provides advice on fitting social time into your schedule.

Note: Please enter “University of British Columbia” as your organization to access these articles.

UBC’s EFAP provider Shepell offers counselling services for support with the following:

• Enhancing your relationships
• Relationship challenges
• Family support services
• Stress and resilience
• Family concerns (e.g. communication, parenting, dynamics, and more)
• Workplace communication and conflict management

To get started with Shepell’s Relationship Support Services, call 1-800-387-4765 or browse through their available services online. 

For more information, check out these Workhealthlife articles: 

Workplace relationships:

• Working together: strategies to improve your employee-supervisor relationship
• Fun and easy team building ideas 

Family/Couple relationships and communication:

• Building and maintaining healthy relationships
• Rekindling the couple relationship after having a baby
• Squeezing in your main squeeze: making time for your relationship
• Improving family communication

Note: Please enter “University of British Columbia” as your organization to access these articles.

For more information on how UBC is creating an equitable, inclusive campus, visit:

• Access and Diversity
• Equity and Inclusion Office
• First Nations House of Learning
• UBC Wellbeing
• UBC’s Respectful Environment Statement