Benefit of Support Groups

We've seen first hand through our signature Circles Mental Wellbeing support group, the benefit support groups have had for our community.

So why are they worth joining? We've broken it down for you.

What are Support Groups?

Meetings of individuals with shared experiences, who provide support, assistance and companionship to one another

Why Join a Support Group?

Studies* have shown they provide the following benefits:

• Increased resilience
• Improved sense of belonging, connection and feeling less judged
• Improved self-esteem, motivation, confidence and hope
• Better knowledge and understanding of the issue being discussed in the group
• Feeling more in control of the situation
• New social and support networks

Getting the Most out of a Support Group

It can be daunting attending a support group for the first time and sharing experiences with people you don't know. However, overtime, participating will help you reap the benefits.

Try joining a group for a month or so, and if it doesn't feel like a good fit for you, it is completely ok to shop around and find a group or format that suits you better.

How to Find a Support Group?

• Ask your GP
• Visit national institutes for the specific topic you are interested in
• Register to attend one of Never Not Creative's free support groups:

1. Circles (mental wellbeing for creatives):?www.nevernotcreative.org/circles
2. Allies (for men supporting women):?www.nevernotcreative.org/allies
3. Here Now (for BIPOC students/grads):?www.nevernotcreative.org/herenow

References

*Worrall, H., Schweizer, R., Marks, E., Yuan, L., Lloyd, C., & Ramjan, R. (2018). The effectiveness of support groups: a literature review. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 22(2), 85–93. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-12-2017-0055