Saturday, July 19, 2014

Organizing A Psychiatric Health Support Group

By Marylou Forbes


There are several steps to setting up any type of ongoing meeting whether academia, business or health. When it comes to setting up a Psychiatric Health Support Group, individuals need to be sure that safety and security measures are also implemented. This is because when sharing with one another in discussions, those suffering from different mental health issues can sometimes get violent.

When selecting a location, meeting on a monthly, bi-monthly or weekly basis can also make a difference. Those wishing to meet once a month may want to try and obtain a venue which can offer more privacy and longer meetings. Others may want to meet in restaurants or coffee shops depending on the intensity of issues being discussed. Participants prone to verbal or violent behavior will most likely want to attend sessions at a local clinic or hospital to avoid potential outbreaks in a public venue.

Topics can also play into the best location for a meeting. This is because some discussions are acceptable in public venues and others are not. While discussions related to behavioral issues might be appropriate, those dealing with domestic, sexual or verbal abuse are most likely served best in a private setting.

Declaring a moderator or leader for one or all sessions is also key. Often one or two individuals provide this service. The individuals can be from outside or members of the group. A moderator or leader generally provides an introduction, has each individual in attendance provide a brief introduction, then monitors the ongoing discussions and exercises.

When setting up a date for each meeting, it is often best to make it a certain day of the month rather than date. For example, the group meets on the 3rd Saturday each month. By doing so, individuals can mark their calendars months, even years in advance without having to have a specific month, date and year and always know when a meeting is scheduled.

While it is often more difficult for individuals prone to severe violence to participate, there are some hospital and clinic groups and sessions which make this possible. To locate one in the area, call a local counselor, psychiatrist or psychologist office and ask if anyone knows of a mental health support network in the area.

When it comes to safety and security, it is often best to have outside individuals perform this task. Still, whether a member, members, or an outside security team, there does need to be some form of peacekeeping at any mental health oriented seminar, support meeting or workshop.

Social outings as well as regular meetings can often help individuals with mental health issues become more self-confident. Most often, those undergoing psychiatric treatment are also involved in some form of therapy. Some individuals prefer private one-on-one counseling while others find sharing a great add-on to traditional psychiatric care.

Every individual reacts differently to social work or therapy. Support while often not official treatment can add a great deal of joy and happiness. Learning social behavior during sessions and outings can also help in overcoming issues with daily routines, social environments and other mental health issues.




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