“…However, definitions of social support may be too narrowfocusing on intimate relationships such as friend and family networks and ignoring the potential role of more casual relationships existing naturally in the community (i.e., distal supports). While qualitative studies have provided some context for understanding the importance of distal social supports for individuals with psychiatric disabilities (e.g., Beal et al 2005;Corin and Lauzon 1992;Royce-Davis 2001), less is known about the specific types of support provided by distal supports. For instance, the social support literature generally agrees upon three classic types of support: (1) tangible support (the provision of financial assistance, material goods, or services); (2) emotional support (the offering of empathy, concern, affection, love, and trust); and (3) informational support (the provision of advice, guidance, or useful information) (Langford et al 1997;Uchino 2004;Willis 1998).…”