How to run a Virtual Support Group

The stressors of the pandemic have made certain people unavailable or difficult to communicate with regularly. Thus, having a strong support system has been the?go-to tip from experts when asked how to deal with the uncertainties of the ongoing pandemic and the current political, social, and economic climate.

A support group provides an opportunity for people to share personal experiences and feelings, coping strategies, or first-hand information about diseases or treatments. It can help people feel less lonely, isolated, or judged and goes a long way in gaining a sense of empowerment, control or hope. Support groups—specifically, online support groups help accommodate the social distancing restrictions of the?pandemic. It might be just what you need right now.

Some of the ways and methods that can be followed that would benefit starting and sustaining the peer support groups :-

Giving it a unique Name :- Giving the group a name sets a very inspiring tone and defines the purpose behind the whole essence of having a community. Some of the options for the names could be:-

·??????With a common Bond

·??????Supportive Expressions

·??????Shared support

·??????Cheers Peers

·??????A helping hand

Becoming a Member:- As you begin planning the group, consider the following:-

·??????What is the purpose of the group? Possible purposes include providing social support or mental health support.

·??????Picking the right person to lead your support group is of utmost importance. Also, Leaders must remember to figure out a good size for the group, one that is conducive to interaction, will not cause many interruptions, and will not let others remain unnoticed. Allow people to join the group through any platform and make sure that the groups dynamic does not get interrupted with anyone leaving or joining.

Frequency of Meetings: - When a group is new, participation may be small. It is important not to be discouraged and to continue to meet as scheduled. Besides, the 'success' of a group is not based on how many people attend, but on the relationships that develop and the support that is provided.

Developing ground rules: - As the number of participants grows, it will be important to create some ground rules. These can also be framed as "group agreements," and it is often helpful if participants create for themselves the rules or agreements by which the group will be run. Ground rules are a way of establishing boundaries and keeping order in the group.?

Some common ground rules include:

·??????Pick a virtual platform : There are?plenty of great options for virtual platforms, like Zoom, Google Hangout, Webex, Uber conference, Microsoft Teams, GoToMeeting, Zoho Meeting, and Ring central.?

·??????Expectations around confidentiality: "what you say in the room, stays in the room"; anything said or noticed in the room will not be repeated or discussed at another time or place

·??????Openness and respect: group members are expected to listen to each other without interrupting, take turns speaking, and speak without judgment or giving advice; by the same token, choosing not to speak is also respected.

·??????Language: Group members are expected to avoid?language?that would offend

·??????Promptness: Meetings shoul begin and end on time

Help Members solve problems: - While solving problems should not be the only goal of a support group, it is something that many members hope for and expect.

It is time to get creative and leverage technology to provide totally unique experiences for your stakeholders that also benefit the larger community.

Thank you.