Peer Support Groups
When you have experienced a major event in your life, like being injured, it is helpful to talk with other people who are facing similar challenges.
We all learn and develop our self-confidence by interacting with others and observing how each of us responds to the challenge. The more similar these individuals and challenges are to ourselves and the ones we are facing, the greater the learning.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF JOINING A PEER SUPPORT GROUP?
Some benefits of a peer support group include:
- Sharing experiences with others
- Feeling less alone
- Developing new friendships
- Helping others
- Gaining support and hope from others facing similar experiences
- Learning new skills for coping and enhancing your life
- Becoming more self confident
- Feeling more in control
- Feeling less anxious and afraid
WHO RUNS THE SUPPORT GROUPS AND WHAT DO THEY DO?
Every support group is facilitated by a trauma survivor. Some support
groups also have a group leader who is a health professional who is involved
in trauma care. Because support groups have several members, they offer
a range of different experiences and viewpoints. Participants have different
types of injuries (brain injuries, leg injuries, multiple trauma) resulting
from different types of events (motor vehicle crashes, falls, gunshot
wounds). The challenges members face will also vary.
Most groups meet at least monthly and offer educational/informational
meetings with guest speakers who can address various topics of interest
to the group, and they usually provide a chance for people to ask questions,
discuss issues and ask for input from other members. Support groups offer
a trauma survivor the chance to gain the experience, confidence and support
necessary to move forward in the recovery process.
HOW DO I JOIN A PEER SUPPORT GROUP?
If you wish to join a support group in your area, you can look through the groups offered at your trauma center. Please note that you will be required to register with the TSN in order to join a support group. You can also contact the TSN Coordinator of your trauma center. And remember you can also go to our online community forum to link up with other survivors and their families for information, support and hope.
Register with the TSN now!