Workshop Title: - Designing and conducting support groups

Aims: 1. To orient psychiatrists in understanding the increasing need of support groups for psychiatric disorders for various types of target populations. 2. To train psychiatrists to design and structure support groups addressing the different concerns. 3. To share tips on the practical logistical & social media aspects of conducting support groups in the Indian context. 4. To enhance skills of reaching out to individuals with mental illness and their caregivers. Outline: Support groups or self-help groups for mental health are one of the most common types of research based support available. While qualitative research shows positive evidence and quantitative research shows mixed evidence when it comes to showing favourable effects on the symptoms and the social functioning of patients((1)), there is still inadequate effort directed towards researching about and running support groups given the mental health burden and the treatment gap observed in the Indian context. Unfortunately, the processes which impact the recovery processes involvement in self-help groups are not fully understood and hence it stands as one of the major hurdles in being recommended as part of treatment.((2)) Researchers and mental health consumer advocates argue that the approach to recovery from mental illness should emphasize not just on the symptoms of the disorder but also on the ‘life-context’ of these individuals.((3)) Hence, recovery should be described not merely as some end-point, but a social-psychological process.((4)) These trainer-facilitated but member governed groups provide social support and knowledge by interaction with peers probably experiencing similar symptoms and in many ways finding acceptance by their “own”. This important step provides cognitive changes that improve the quality of the stigmatized individual’s life.((5)) Peer services allow very high levels of acceptance and understanding which no other professional relationship could possibly reciprocate. ((6)) The covid pandemic has been mentally exhausting for majority people and has also exacerbated or worsened a lot of psychiatric disorders. During this time, although psychological help was available, it was remote or difficult for everyone to approach and the need for support groups has surfaced. Considering this need, many poorly directed online support groups have mushroomed. Unfortunately in India, there is a paucity of peer support service in providing mental health service to a large extent. Surprisingly, there is no provision of peer support in either government programs like the National Mental Program or the National Health Policy of India considering the fact that it will require a good level of funding and investment. ((6)) With this aspect in mind, this workshop would include training psychiatrists to design and conduct well-functioning and professionally supervised support groups. This workshop would include presentations, personal experiences of conducting support groups, oral discussions and group activities to empower psychiatrists to tap into this much needed resource for recovery of patients with mental illness. 1. Pistrang N, Baker C, Humphreys K. Mutual help groups for mental health problems: A review of effectiveness studies. American Journal of Community Psychology. 2008;42:110–1121. 2. Brown LD, Lucksted A. Theoretical foundations of mental health self-help. In: Brown L, Wituk S, editors. Mental Health Self-Help. Springer; New York: 2010. pp. 19–38; 3. Ralph RO, Corrigan PW. Recovery and mental illness: Consumer visions and research paradigms. American Psychological Association; Washington, DC: 2005. 4. Markowitz FE. Sociological models of recovery. In: Ralph RO, Corrigan PW, editors. Recovery and mental illness: Consumer visions and research paradigms. American Psychological Association; Washington, DC: 2005. pp. 85–100; 5. Jacobs MK, Goodman G. Psychology and self-help groups. American Psychologist. 1989;44:536–545. 6. Goutam, Neeti. “IMPORTANCE OF 'PEER-SUPPORT'SERVICES FROM A MENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.” (2020).