My Dad has a saying.
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"What's the most important thing in the world, son?" He sometimes asks...

"What?" I reply.

"Hugs" he says.

Every generation ought to build on from the previous generations' wisdom, so I'm going to be a little less specific than he was.

While hugs are important, I tell my kids it's "connection".

According to Gabor Mate, a leading voice in trauma research, a lack of connection can lead to addiction.

It's addiction that envelopes us ... because we may feel like we're burdening others with our problems, actually don't have anyone to talk to or in some cases don't even know it's connection we truly crave for.

Connection doesn't have to be literal: as in a hug.

It can be a short conversation. It can be a kind word, reminding someone of one of their strengths or it could be with a chat and a beverage...

However it comes, it is valuable and certainly never to be diminished as something frivolous in one's mental health recovery.

So if you see a mate struggling, listen to them, if they open up to you be a trusted ear, and maybe tell them something good about themselves. Don't be shy. A kind reminder may just save a life.

Because a reminder of a strength can give someone hope that someone else sees something valuable in them, especially if they've lost hope themselves.