Below add on to their explanation of the protective benefit of social support and suggest additional means to increase social connectedness.

Social support helps prevent and/or mitigate the development of burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma because of its ability to enhance one's mental health along by creating resources for support (Galek et al., 2011). Social support can also be viewed as an important resource for maintaining well-being in the face of work stress (Galek et al., 2011). The use of social support can be used as one way of feeling supported, and feeling like they belong, and provides an outlet for many people.

The biggest conclusion that I can draw from my ecomap is that my biggest support and connections are my friends. Living in three different states, I have been able to make friends within each state and continue to have them as my support from far away. Due to them living away, their relationship line was waved or squiggly due to not being able to spend time together. Leaving the last state I lived in, my social connections changed due to living away from my home state and maintaining a support system of just friends to moving back home where my main support back home has been my family My support from my family only includes two family members which are my sister and my cousin.

I currently use this support by making time for them each week. My friends have told me in the past that they don't know how I maintain a social life with all the things I am juggling in life. I always tell them that I would not be able to achieve all the things I am doing without their random game nights or movie nights. My social connections are all the things that keep me motivated. I will continue to use this support by enjoying their company, calling them when I am in need, and being a friend to them.

The biggest opportunity for me that I think exists when thinking of how to increase my social connectedness is being a part of more community things. Once I graduate school and become able to work only one job that does not take up my nights or weekends, I hope to do more things in my free time that help my engagement with my community and social support that are not always just friends.