Building a Support Network
Build a support network with a psychosocial disability: formal and informal supports, peer connection, reducing isolation and lived experience.
No one recovers in isolation, and you do not have to. A strong support network — a mix of formal supports, everyday relationships and people who have been where you are — can make a real difference to living well. This guide explains how to build formal and informal supports, the value of peer and lived-experience connection, and gentle ways to reduce isolation at your own pace.
Why connection matters
Formal supports
Informal supports
Peer and lived-experience support
Reducing isolation, one step at a time
Frequently asked questions
What is a support network?
A support network is the mix of people and services around you — formal supports like recovery coaches, support workers and your clinical team, and informal supports like family, friends and community. For a psychosocial disability, it also often includes peer support from people with their own…
What is the difference between formal and informal supports?
Formal supports are the paid or professional people and services around you, such as a recovery coach, support workers or your mental health team. Informal supports are the unpaid relationships in everyday life — family, friends, neighbours and community groups. Both matter, and they work best woven…
What is peer support?
Peer support connects you with people who have lived through mental health challenges themselves. They offer understanding, practical wisdom and hope, drawing on shared experience rather than professional distance. It can come through peer support workers, peer-led groups or community programs, and…
How do I start building a network if I feel isolated?
Start small and be kind to yourself. Name one person or place where you feel a little safe, take one small step like a message or a short visit, notice what helped, and build from there at your own pace. A support worker or recovery coach can help you take these steps if reaching out feels hard.
Can the NDIS help me connect with my community?
Yes. Social and community participation supports can help you get out, take part and belong, and a support worker or recovery coach can help you reconnect at a comfortable pace. These supports work alongside the informal relationships and peer connections you build yourself.