By Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry - Published on February 20, 2026

Last updated on February 20, 2026

When you’re depressed, it’s easy to feel like you’re all alone, isolated in your lack of interests or inability to focus on normal activities from everyday, functional society. You may even think it’s best to remain apart from others and just suffer quietly by yourself. 

After all, the thinking goes, why would other well-adjusted, competent and happy people want to spend time around someone who’s such a bummer?

That’s how depression clouds your thinking. The reality is much different: Social support has an inverse relationship to depression.

Decades of research point to the profound biological and psychological benefits of social connection for mental health. Social interaction acts as a buffer against stress and lessens the severity of depressive episodes.

In a large-scale analysis published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers found that strong social support, particularly from friends, was the strongest protective factor for depression, reducing the risk across diverse populations. 

Positive social interactions trigger the release of neurotransmitters in our brain like oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine, which promote feelings of well-being, trust, and calm — the very sensations often suppressed by depression. They make us feel good and we want more of it.

“The human brain has been shaped through evolution to reward us for connection and punish us for isolation,” writes Ben Rein, PhD in his book Why Brains Need Friends, released in 2025. “As such, we have so much to gain from socializing, and arguably even more to lose without it.”

There is also increasing evidence that surrounding yourself with friends, family and other social supports is one of the key contributors to longevity and contentment seen in the so-called “blue zones” across the world, where unusually high numbers of people live to be at least 100. 

‘Epidemic of Loneliness’

By contrast, a lack of social connection is increasingly understood as a significant health risk. 

In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory calling loneliness and isolation an epidemic that increases the risk for conditions including stroke, heart disease and dementia. “The health and societal impacts of social isolation and loneliness are a critical public health concern in light of mounting evidence that millions of Americans lack adequate social connection in one or more ways,” the advisory reads.

That’s of particular concern in an era where many Americans work remotely, live in isolated communities that lack opportunities for social interaction and are still struggling with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, when people were locked down in their homes for months and close physical contact with others was discouraged.

This connection to loneliness is especially relevant for depression, where isolation can compound symptoms of the mood disorder and limit the efficacy of treatment.

How Support Systems Help Combat Depression

A strong social network can consist of friends, family members, significant others or spouses, neighbors, coworkers, teammates or coaches, clergy, teachers and more. These support systems provide several important benefits:

Emotional Validation and Perspective: Friends and family can offer an outside perspective that cuts through the negative cognitive distortions common in depression — the clouded thinking mentioned earlier of “I’m a failure” or “No one cares.” Confidants can validate your struggles while reminding you that you matter to them and others, giving a helpful perspective of reality outside your depressed thoughts.

Practical Assistance: Beyond emotional support, social connections can provide practical support when daily tasks feel overwhelming, such as ensuring you attend appointments, dropping off a container of homemade soup, or helping with childcare. 

Encouragement for Treatment: Loved ones can help encourage you to stick with your treatment plans, whether by taking medication, attending therapy, or stepping outside for a needed dose of sunshine. They can help keep you accountable when your motivation lags.

Sense of Belonging: As we said before, depression sets the stage for feeling alienated. Connecting with others reminds you that you’re part of a community and that others love and care about you. It’s an important reminder that despite what you think, you’re not alone.

Practical Tips To Leverage Support

 It may feel difficult to reach out to friends or colleagues when you’re depressed, but it’s not impossible. Here are steps to help leverage the support available to you:

Be Specific: Instead of saying, “I’m having a hard time,” try, “Could you help me find a therapist and make an appointment?” or “Could you help me walk the dog today?”

Schedule “Low-Stakes” Connections: Arrange activities that require minimal energy or planning, like watching a movie, sitting in the park, or a quick phone call.

Identify Your “Go-To” People: Think about your friends and loved ones and arrange them by their skills so you know who to call for your specific needs: the listener, the practical helper, the distraction, and so forth.

Accept Imperfection: Understand that your support-network connections are not mental health experts and may say the wrong thing. That’s OK.

While social connection isn’t a cure for clinical depression, it is an essential step toward regaining mental stability and well-being and putting your symptoms in remission. By taking small, deliberate steps to engage with your support system and be social, you set the ground for recovery. If you’ve been feeling depressed, here are some realistic and gentle ways you can care for yourself. If you are ready to seek professional help, our team at Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry offers medication management services along with TMS therapy (transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy) and Spravato. Call us or send us a note. We’re here to help.

Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry