Support Mapping

Support mapping can be a very useful tool when thinking about your community. It creates a modifiable visual chart to identify support systems. If you are a high school senior, or work with them, a support map may be beneficial to use as you prepare for college. What are some of the supports and systems that could be beneficial for you as you enter into a new environment? If you are already in college, a support map can help you solidify some of the support you already have and help you to identify new ones that you may need.

Support maps can be used by students to think about all of the systems on a college campus that can be used to support you in grief. Think about academic life, spiritual life, physical activities, social opportunities and emotional supports on your campus. How can each of these systems be tapped in to when you need them? Are there specific people that are available for specific needs? If you are in high school. you may want to start a support map so you have it as a resource when you get to college, or think about the things you want to have in place for you when you get there. Perhaps it will help you to initiate conversations with potential schools so you know you are joining a campus with the right emotional fit for you.

Here is a downloadable support map that may be useful. Some categories may not work for everyone and you may want to add some of your own. Create the support map that works for you.