Support Groups Awareness Week 2024
Why going to a Peer Support Group could be invaluable for your Mental Health
Written by Laura McWhae, Group Supports Officer
I am a big fan of peer support groups. This is because the ability to attend a free, weekly, local peer support group to be hands down the most beneficial, accessible support option for my mental health when I needed it most. And I am not the only one who feels that way.
Thanks to funding from the WA Mental Health Commission, CoMWHA is currently in the process of developing a new mental health peer support group program that is being 100% designed by people who identify as having a lived experience of mental health challenges. Last month we held our first full day co-design workshop, attended by 15 peers from a diverse range of ages and backgrounds and with diverse life experiences and peer support group experiences.
These are the reasons our 15 strong Co-Design team put for the question “Why go to a Mental Health Peer Support Group?”, ranked in order of most commonly occurring and voted for themes.
- Community, Belonging and Support – People who are struggling with their mental health can often feel socially isolated and disconnected. Peer Support groups can be a great place to find connection, friendship and build a sense of community and belonging with people who may have had similar struggles.
- Hope, Validation and Acceptance – When you are going through a rough patch or having a hard or dark time, it can be hard to have hope that things can get better. Meeting others who have been through tough times and come out the other side can help provide hope. In addition, sometimes we can feel misunderstood or judged by people in our life or broader society who may not understand what we are struggling with. Being amongst people who may have lived through what you have, can help people feel accepted and like their feelings are valid.
- Mutuality, Understanding and Sharing – Sometimes when you have struggled with mental health issues for a while, you can feel like you are always the one needing to be helped and have nothing to contribute. Mutual support means that no one person is always the helper or the helpee. Instead, people can fill both these roles alternately within a support group. Sometimes people can surprise themselves when they realise they have learnt something that may help another and are able to share that knowledge. This can be really empowering and helps individuals recognise the progress they really have made. Being amongst people who are authentically themselves can also help people feel safe.
- Safety, Inclusion and Accessibility – The most common sub-theme in this category was “low-cost/free to attend”. Being free/low-cost increases accessibility for those who may not otherwise be able to afford mental health support to access support. A good peer support group should also promote feelings of safety and be inclusive and accessible as possible for people with sensory, physical or other diverse needs.
- Contribution, Accountability and Celebrating Wins – Feeling like you are contributing something can be a great benefit of participating in and/or taking on volunteer roles within a peer support group. A Peer Support group is also a great place to stay accountable to your goals and celebrate wins.
- Listening and Learning – Peer Support groups can be a great place to learn from others, hear different perspectives, and learn about other services, information or resources that may be of benefit to you.
It is for all these reasons that we are working with our 15-strong co-design team (and with input from over 70 online survey respondents), to co-design a fantastic new program that is safe, enjoyable and accessible to as many people as possible. Pilot groups are due to be established in the Perth metro area in the first half of next year.
For more information, please contact us: groupsupports@comhwa.org.au