The Science Behind Why It Works
Peer support groups showed impressive results over the past few decades, especially when it comes to addressing mental health issues.
With today’s prevalence of mental health disorders, researchers are constantly looking for new therapeutic modalities. Preferably, the methods would not involve pharmacological drugs due to their heavy side effect profile.
For this reason, peer support groups gained massive traction in the workplace, with many CEOs setting up group therapy rooms to address mental issues in their companies.
In this article, we will review the evidence that supports the effectiveness of peer support in helping people in the workplace.
The benefits of peer support groups
Peer support groups provide several benefits to workers.
If you are not familiar with the concept of peer support group, here is a quick definition:
Peer group therapy focuses on gathering people who are dealing with the same problem (e.g., depression, anxiety) to talk about the issue and exchange helpful tips.
The benefits of organizing these support groups include:
Feelings less lonely
Sharing your deepest fears and feelings with other coworkers who have similar issues is quite liberating. While this might sound terrifying at first, you would be surprised at how many people share the same problems.
Instead of internalizing every motion you develop, you can share it with your peers, which will undoubtedly make you feel much better.
Learning new coping mechanisms
Perhaps the best part about peer support groups is the fact that you can listen to your teammates and learn from their experiences.
For instance, if you have an anxiety disorder, your peers might provide you with useful tips to temper down your fears and avoid triggers.
Staying motivated
Dealing with mental disorders is very challenging, especially when you approach it solo. For this reason, peer support groups serve as a great way to keep you motivated.
Additionally, you can get a sponsor to monitor your progression and keep you in check.
Learn more about your condition
Researchers repeatedly found that learning more about your condition helps you cope with it.
Not having enough information about the different aspects of your mental disorder leads to devastating consequences. The obscurity and the fear of the unknown will inevitably exacerbate your symptoms and worsen your prognosis.
Fortunately, organizing regular meetings with your groupmates will help you gather more information to understand and address your condition.
Getting feedback from your peers
When trying to approach a mental health disorder, you will most likely encounter numerous methods and techniques that promise a quick resolution.
Therefore, and instead of trying everything that comes your way, you could benefit from hearing reviews and feedback from your peers; this will save you time and money.
Takeaway message
Peer support groups have been scientifically proven to help patients with mental health disorders.
We hope that this article managed to convey the importance of peer support groups in the field of mental health and how you can use it to address several disorders.
To learn more about organizing group therapy, reach out to us by here.
