• What are self help groups?

• Times/dates/venues of current self help groups

• “A self help or mutual aid group consists of people who have personal experiences of a similar problem or life situation. Sharing experiences enables them to give each a other a unique quality of mutual support and to pool practical information and ways of coping. Groups are run by and for their members.” (Self Help Nottingham, 1997; extract)

  What can they do?

  • A chance to meet with people with similar experiences of common mental health issues.

  • Most act as an exchange of ideas and coping strategies. “I find that when I’m really desperate it helps me if I do this… – what helps you?”

  • Most offer mutual support. After all they really do understand. Members often say “It’s good to know you are not the only one that feels this way”

  • Some people use self help groups as a way of making changes in their life, but with support.

  • Members decide how to run their own groups.

  • Some choose to bring in speakers on particular issues. Some are interested in campaigning to improve services or reduce stigma.

  • At Dudley Mind we can help you to set up and maintain your group.

  How can I join in?

  There are several self help groups in the Dudley area and we are keen to develop more.

  If you would like to know more do get in touch. We can either introduce you to an existing group or help you to set up a new group with other people.

  Once a group is started we can offer help in setting ground-rules, booking venues, advertising the group and recruiting new members.

  Self help groups are not an alternative to treatments through the NHS, but many people find they are helpful because they are run by people with their own mental health experience.

  Download Poster

• 	Depression (Evening Group) 7 – 9pm	Anxiety (Afternoon Group) 1 – 3:30pm	Anxiety (Evening Group) 7 – 9pm	Bi Polar (Evening Group) 7 – 9pm
  When	Every last Monday of the month	Every 1st Friday in the month starting 9th March 2012	Every 3rd Thursday in the month	Every 1st Thursday of the month
  Where	Stourbridge Fire Station Community Centre	Unit 44, The Waterfront, (Near Merry Hill)	Merry Hill Centre Meeting Rooms, Earls Suite, Castle Lounge	Merry Hill Centre Meeting Rooms, Earls Suite, Castle Lounge
  			(next to Scallywags Children’s Creche)	(next to Scallywags Children’s Creche)

Connect with the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.

Be active….

Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

Take notice…

Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

Keep learning…

Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.

Give…

Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.

Five ways to wellbeing…
Were developed by the Centre for Wellbeing at the New Economics Foundation commissioned by Foresight’s Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project and based on research from across the world to consider how to improve everyone’s mental capital and mental wellbeing through life.

Connect…..

Connect with the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.

Be active….

Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

Take notice…

Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

Keep learning…

Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.

Give…

Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.

Five ways to wellbeing…
Were developed by the Centre for Wellbeing at the New Economics Foundation commissioned by Foresight’s Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project and based on research from across the world to consider how to improve everyone’s mental capital and mental wellbeing through life.

(Wednesday 10am – 12pm) Visual Arts

Castle High School, Dudley

Study different forms of art using a range of materials.

(Tuesday 11am – 1pm) Creative Expressions
Zion Centre
Express yourself through art therapy.

• About Befriending

• Desirable Skills

• Dudley Mind’s Volunteer Befriending Scheme is offering on-going training and support to volunteers in helping individuals who have mental health problems to overcome isolation and improve their confidence. We are looking for volunteers from all walks of life that can spare at least 2 hours a week to accompany others outside of their home. It may involve going to a café, the cinema, a training course or some other social situation. We will try to match the interests of the volunteer with those of the person they are befriending. The aim is for the individual to regain their social skills and for the volunteer to have a rewarding experience and hopefully some fun too.

   

  We would particularly welcome volunteers who have their own experience of mental health problems.

• Desirable skills for Volunteers

  This is a list of skills, knowledge and personal qualities it will be useful for a volunteer to have.

  Skills

  • Listening skills
  • Communication skills
  • Ability to relate warmly and sensitively
  • Ability to work on own initiative with the guidelines of the scheme
  • Ability to keep boundaries
  • Ability to ask for help when needed
  • Basic literacy skills to keep records of visits
  • Ability to travel, prepared to use public transport

  Knowledge

  • Some awareness of mental health issues
  • An understanding of the issue of confidentiality

  Personal Qualities

  • Empathy
  • Ability to accept people as they are without discrimination or judgement
  • Reliability
  • Honesty
  • Ability to provide approximately 2 hours per week for at least 6 months
  • Willingness to attend training and supervision sessions

  If you do not have all these qualities please do not be put off as some of the skills can be learned.

If you are interested in applying please press the button below.

Or if you want more information, please contact Tina Swindles, Dudley Mind on 01384 442938,
e-mail: enquiries@dudleymind.org.uk