Mental health support group

[Orangesandlemons77]

Ho, has anyone gone to one of these before? There is one where I like which is run by Mind. You can't just turn up but need to apply. Filled ina form and now feeling scared.

Hi. I go to one that's run by the voluntary sector, too (though not Mind). I find it sometimes very useful, sometimes a bit of a tedious chore, but on the whole it's had a positive effect, I think. Mine might be more relaxed than Mind's, since there was no application, and you're free to come or not come depending on how you feel, and currently they don't have a time limit for how long you can attend. It's fairly informal, and you can choose how social you really want to be. If I'm having a hard time, I might just pop in for a coffee and not chat to anyone, but I've still got dressed, left the house, had a change of scenery and seen other people for a bit, which is good. It's just a place where you really don't have to pretend you're fine if you're not.

These things are usually pretty easy going. I've attended plenty in various capacities and help facilitate a few.

Nobody is going to try and therapise or treat you, you won't be expected or forced to engage or participate in any way you don't want to, and you'll usually be absolutely free to come and go as you like.

As @SoMuchKombucha says, they tend to really just be about a bit of gentle peer support, where you can perhaps meet a few people who are experiencing or have experienced similar things to you that you can chat with, have a cup of tea or coffee, and sometimes there might be a speaker or a presentation on some topic that might be relevant and helpful. They're social things really, not about 'group therapy' or such.