#peer-support

#peer-support

When Ilona suddenly lost her husband to suicide six years ago, she was heading the customs department of a medium-sized company. Distracting herself with work helped her to bring a sense of normality back into her life, she recalls. Ilona quickly realized that she wouldn't be able to cope with her loss alone so she sought help. A neighbor told her about a support group in Berlin. There, she met Patricia, who's been the group's volunteer leader for over 10 years.

Work is filled with contradictions and disruptions these days, and the uncertainty can make the workplace feel like a constant emergency. As a result, people are stressed, pessimistic, and pulling back from their organizations-but they're not disconnecting from each other. Our new research shows that, even under tremendous pressure, employees are "quiet connecting": helping each other regardless of what's happening at the company level. Organizations would do well to recognize and strengthen these organic bonds because they can serve as a powerful counterforce.

Teen friendships are essential for emotional development, providing a sense of belonging and healing uniquely different from adult support.