Presentation by Katie Curo of Befriend Inc. - Activities Aren't Relationships: Supporting relationship outcomes using social identity approaches. Presented at the Western Australian Mental Health Conference 2019.

1. AC TIVITIES A R E N’ T
R E L ATIO N SHIP S
Katie Curo
Relationships & Inclusion Consultant
Befriend Inc.
SUPPORTING RELATIONSHIP
OUTCOMES USING SOCIAL
IDENTITY APPROACHES

2. Overview
■ Evidence supporting the use of social interventions to improve
physical & mental health
■ The Social Identity Approach to Health (Groups 4 Health)
■ Social Network Mapping (GENIE)
■ How Befriend have adapted these approaches
■ Case study

4. Image source: https://www.avivo.org.au

5. What do we believe is good for our
health?
We are bombarded with
information about what
keeps us healthy.
Rank the factors that you
think are most important
for staying healthy.
■ Taking appropriate medication
■ Being socially integrated
■ Not drinking too much alcohol
■ Receiving a lot of social support
■ Avoiding air pollution
■ Flu vaccination
■ Not smoking
■ Quitting Smoking
■ Not being obese
■ Doing exercise
■ Being physically active
Haslam, C., et al. (2016). GROUPS 4 HEALTH Workbook (version 3.0). Social Identity and Groups Network (SIGN), University of Queensland, Australia.

6. Haslam, C., et al. (2016). GROUPS 4 HEALTH Workbook (version 3.0). Social Identity and Groups Network (SIGN), University of Queensland, Australia.

7. Supporting individuals to improve
their health

8. THE
OPTIONS
AVAILABL
E DON’T
TYPICALL
Y
ADDRESS
SOCIAL
HEALTH

9. Yet, the evidence supporting the link
between social & physical and mental
health is growing.
S o c i o l o g y P s y c h o l o g y A n t h r o p o l o g y
M e d i c i n eJ o u r n a l i s m

10. Typical responses to social isolation
Q: So what are some more effective approaches for supporting people to
improve their social health?
Response Problem
1. We do loads of activities Activities ≠ Relationships
2. We fill all of a person’s social
needs ourselves
Burnout, feelings of abandonment

12. The Social Identity Approach to Health
■ Evidence-based interventions that
emphasise activities that develop,
maintain, or bolster the social
identities of service users
■ Social Identity Groups Network
(www.socialidentitynetwork.com)
and University of Queensland

13. Social Identity
■ Henri Tajfel (1972)
■ Internalised group membership that
serves to define a person’s sense of
who they are in a given social context
■ Different to the notion of personal
identity
■ Can contribute to both good and bad
health outcomes

14. Groups 4 Health Intervention
■ “How can we furnish people with the
skills to use social groups as a
beneficial psychological resource in
their daily lives?”
■ 5 Modules:
– Schooling
– Scoping
– Sourcing
– Scaffolding
– Sustaining
■ www.groups4health.com

15. Image source: https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-31/may-2018/scaffolding-stronger-society

16. Groups 4 Health Intervention
■ “How can we furnish people with the
skills to use social groups as a
beneficial psychological resource in
their daily lives?”
■ 5 Modules:
– Schooling
– Scoping
– Sourcing
– Scaffolding
– Sustaining
■ www.groups4health.com

17. Social Network Analysis
■ Use in data-science
■ Roots in Anthropology
■ Mapping and reflecting on the
composition of personal networks,
eliciting preferences, and
considering options for engaging
with local and online resources,
groups, people and organizations
(Kennedy, Vassilev et al. 2016).
■ www.genie.soton.ac.uk
Kennedy, A., et al. (2016). "Implementing a social network intervention designed to enhance and diversify
support for people with long-term conditions. A qualitative study." Implementation science : IS 11(1): 27.

18. Social Network Mapping
■ Benefits for the individual
■ Benefits for the Community Mental
Health Professional
■ Benefits for the organisation
■ Benefits for the individual
■ Benefits for the Community Mental
Health Professional
■ Benefits for the organisation

19. Who is the person? (Identity Mapping)
■ What are they interested in?
■ What do they care about?
■ Where are their passions/interests
not reflected socially?
■ What are the opportunities to
support them to enhance their
social identities?

20. Social identity development work
■ Who can they be?
■ What can they do to learn more?
■ Can occur 1:1 or in group contexts
■ Important to have rhythm

21. Social Network Mapping
■ Outcomes:
– Changes to quantity of
relationships
– Changes to quality of
relationships

22. Meet Sarah…
Social Network
Mapping (pre)
Who is this
person?
Social Network
Mapping (post)
Sarah’s end goal -
friendship

23. Concluding questions
■ What frameworks do we currently use when supporting people to improve the
quantity and quality of their social relationships?
■ How might the concept of social identity strengthen the way we support social
outcomes?
■ What are the risks of waiting until a person has their ducks in a row before
addressing social outcomes?
■ How might we furnish people with the skills to use social groups as a resource to
enhance their social identity?
■ How might we embed social approaches within our current models of service
delivery?

24. Contact details
/ T h e B e f rie nd S o c ial N e two rk
ka t ie@befrie nd. org .a u
/ B e f rie ndI n c
/ B e f rie ndinc
r s v p@be friend. o rg. au
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w w w. b e frie nd. org . au
0 4 3 4 5 5 9 564