HeyPeers.com

New Support Groups for Two Wellness Fundamentals https://lnkd.in/gbGxKrYy

Peer Support Pays Off: How to Further Increase the ROI A new study of peer support found that peer support has a monetary value of $1.66 to $2.58 as measured by a method called Social Return on Investment. In this same study, sentiment of the peer support participants compared to a group that did not receive peer support, improved and the use of therapy was also less. This is yet another indication of how powerful peer support can be even when it is text-based. HeyPeers video-based peer support group research showed an even more significant set of outcomes. Participants in our Depression Recovery Groups reported a 69% reduction in hospital readmissions, a 50% reduction in the use of ERs and a 48% reduction in the use of Urgent Care. They also reported a 24% reduction in moderate to severe depression symptoms. We believe that the very robust results from our study are because we provide video-based peer support groups that include some evidence-based, discussion content. Short of in-person peer support group meetings, video-based groups provide much more robust communications and impact. The combination of hearing each other's voices and receiving non-verbal information enriches interactions and impact. This is much closer to the kind of social support that human beings need to thrive. Text-based interactions restrict human connections and might also restrict personal development and wellness. It's more complicated to provide video-based support groups but our staffing, quality and technology allow us to offer an efficient and scalable set of services. For more information please go here: https://wkf.ms/4ilZgAI.

My Dog Can Write! My dog, Jake, has evidently learned to write! I received a card from him on Valentine's Day. While his lettering was clear he seems to have an issue common to those who are just learning to write - backward letters and incorrectly spelled words. While Jake may not actually be able to write he represents to me two essential kinds of support in my life. He provides comfort and companionship to me and he also reminds me of the great support that I have received from my wife. Jake became the friend who hangs out under my desk and takes me out to walk a couple of times each day when my wife agreed that we could adopt him (a whole other story). My wife knew that this pooch would be a great additional friend to me even though we had previously agreed to not have another dog. Not everyone is as fortunate as I am. Many people are lonely. A high percentage of people live alone and more people are not dining out, going to movies, etc. The phenomenon was written about in The Atlantic recently in a cover article entitled “The Anti-Social Century.” While having a dog provides me with some additional companionship Jake will never take the place of being with other humans. We are of course inherently social creatures. Not being social is associated with increased rates of anxiety, depression and other health issues. To that end, we at HeyPeers.com help to connect people with others who are on similar life journeys. In small video-based groups led by highly trained facilitators, people talk with each other to give and get social support. And we know from our research and participant feedback that they are all the more better for it. #peersupport, #onlinepeersupport, #loneliness, #mentalhealth

In a pilot program conducted in North Carolina it was found that after investing Medicaid funds on nonmedical services, costs were reduced after just eight months. In the Journal of the American Medical Association article published online on February 27th, UNC physician Seth. A. Berkowitz, et. al., found that the "Healthy Opportunities" pilot program initially increased costs, broke even at eight months and then reduced cost after. The program included enhanced options for substance use issues, transition to managed care, screening for health-related social needs e.g. food, housing, interpersonal violence, toxic stress, etc. There is discussion in our country today about how we may be able to reduce Medicaid spending by eliminating nonmedical expenditures. This study seems to indicate that nonmedical spending might be exactly the way to get to lower overall costs.

The Human Touch at Scale for Dealing with Life's Challenges. Today's article in the NY Times https://lnkd.in/d4gNvtmQ has raised concerns about the significant dangers associated with the newer types of chatbots that pose as therapists. At HeyPeers we share that concern. It's obvious to us that at least two factors are influencing this trend - a shortage of therapists and businesses that seek to reduce labor costs. We think there's a better way - high quality peer support groups. Over the last 15 years we have helped about 1.3 million individuals in video-based peer support groups led by trained facilitators and supervised by professionals. This approach is a high quality, low-cost way to come alongside individuals who are struggling with a variety of life issues and help them move forward in their lives. We have found that most participants have some sense of what they should do about their issues but they having problems putting that knowledge into action. A group is a powerful way to receive empathy, encouragement, helpful ideas and a way to do better. To the surprise of many participants they also begin to be energized by the opportunity to support others. Our HeyPeers Certified groups have helped participants to significantly reduce symptoms, use of urgent care and ERs, and also avoid hospital readmissions. We work with a great variety of organizations that seek to measurably improve their mission progress. Please reach out to us today at https://wkf.ms/4ktTJKD to learn more.

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Federal Workers Support Our hearts go out to the many federal workers who have been suspended, laid off or who have been offered a buyout. These are challenging and disruptive events when done on any scale and the terms associated with the current acts are ambiguous in a large number of cases. At HeyPeers we bring people together who are dealing with life challenges like these to get support and encouragement. We have over 800 monthly groups to offer on a variety of topics and hope that we may be of some assistance to federal workers and anyone who needs to join with others in a confidential group. www.heypeers.com #federalworkers, #supportgroups, #peersupport

Strengthen Your Funding Case with Measurable Impact Nonprofit funders and donors want to ensure their resources make the greatest impact. To secure and maintain funding, it’s crucial to track both quantitative and qualitative outcomes associated with your programs. How well are your services reaching those in need? What percentage of participants remain engaged over time? What feedback are you receiving? These insights matter. With HeyPeers, nonprofits can effortlessly track key impact metrics through our customizable assessment tools. Whether peer support is your core service or a complement to your programs, HeyPeers makes it easy to automate data collection, visualize trends, and download reports to strengthen funding applications and grant renewals. We know your resources are limited—that’s why HeyPeers streamlines this process, providing instant access to the data you need. Learn more about how we can help: https://lnkd.in/g3ffhbBd

LA Wildfire Support Group At HeyPeers, we deeply understand the trauma and ongoing challenges caused by wildfires. Living in Los Angeles, both our Founder and CEO have experienced these hardships firsthand. Our Founder was personally evacuated from his home, which suffered some damage but, fortunately, was spared from complete devastation. These experiences inspire our commitment to supporting others in the community who have been impacted by wildfires. This support group is a safe and welcoming space for those affected by wildfires-whether directly through personal loss, property damage, or evacuation, or indirectly by living in close proximity to affected areas. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with others who understand the unique stress and fear that come with wildfire-related events. Tell your story, express your worries, and find solace in the support and encouragement of others who are navigating similar challenges. Together, we’ll acknowledge and mourn our losses while working toward healing, resilience, and brighter days ahead. You don’t have to face this journey alone—join us to find connection, understanding, and hope for the future. https://lnkd.in/gjYpjUvR

We are so pleased to celebrate our 15th anniversary! We pioneered offering online video-based peer support groups fifteen years ago. Back before there was a Zoom, before most people even knew about the power of peer support, we invited the general public to come together in small groups led by trained facilitators to encourage and assist each other. When we first started, we offered 20 groups a month, today we have over 800 meetings each month. Since our start we have helped over 1.2 million particpants and we look forward to helping more. We will always be grateful to our incredible staff and partner organizations who have made all of this possible.