22/09/2023
Mental Health Support Groups: Make connections, get help
If you're facing a major illness or stressful life change, you don't have to go it alone. A support group can help. Find out how to choose the right one.
Support groups bring together people who are going through or have gone through similar experiences. For example, this common ground might be cancer, chronic medical conditions, addiction, bereavement or caregiving.
A support group provides an opportunity for people to share personal experiences and feelings, coping strategies, or firsthand information about diseases or treatments.
For many people, a health-related support group may fill a gap between medical treatment and the need for emotional support. A person's relationship with doctor or other medical personnel may not provide adequate emotional support, and a person's family and friends may not understand the impact of a disease or treatment. A support group among people with shared experiences may function as a bridge between medical and emotional needs.
Benefits of support groups
The common experience among members of a support group often means they have similar feelings, worries, everyday problems, treatment decisions or treatment side effects. Participating in a group provides you with an opportunity to be with people who are likely to have a common purpose and likely to understand one another.
Benefits of participating in a support group may include:
1. Feeling less lonely, isolated or judged
2. Reducing distress, depression, anxiety or fatigue
3. Talking openly and honestly about your feelings
Improving skills to cope with challenges
4. Staying motivated to manage chronic conditions or stick to treatment plans
5. Gaining a sense of empowerment, control or hope
6. Improving understanding of a disease and your own experience with it
7. Getting practical feedback about treatment options
8. Learning about health, economic or social resources
Getting the most out of a support group
When you join a new support group, you may be nervous about sharing personal issues with people you don't know. At first, you may benefit from simply listening. Over time, however, contributing your own ideas and experiences may help you get more out of a support group.
