NUR 4525 FAU Support Group Discussion
NUR 4525 FAU Support Group Discussion
Any open support group in the community about Mental Health
Reflect on the experience
Reflect on support group value, purpose, and experience; what was your key learning? how can you use this in practice?
Attached is an example to go by.
1 Support Group Paper Melissa Williams Florida Atlantic University: College of Nursing NUR4525: Psychiatric & Mental Health: Nursing Situation Across the Lifespan Dr. Donna Linette DNP, RN-BC, NEA-BC, HN-BC June 20, 2021 2 Support Group Paper Support groups can be a helpful tool that can aid persons suffering from a variety of mental health illnesses in their recovery. They tend to focus on certain topics like depression, anxiety, bipolar etc. There are various types of support groups that are either facilitated by a licensed mental health professional or led by fellow peers who may also be impacted by the same illness. These groups allow people to share their experiences living with the illness(es) which helps them feel less isolated, more so creating a safe space. Anxiety Support Group I was able to locate a virtual support group for anxiety through Mental Health America (MHA) hosted by Inspire. This support group provides free resources for individuals suffering with depression and anxiety. In this group, they shared personal experiences and the organization also provides mental health screening tests at no cost. I chose anxiety as it is something everyone experiences, however some cases become severe mental illnesses over time. Anxiety can be classified into the following disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, and phobias. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness in the United States, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem. Anxiety disorders affect around 40 million adults in the United States (19.1%). Meanwhile, around 7% of youngsters aged 3 to 17 have anxiety problems each year. Symptoms appear in the majority of persons before they reach the age of 21. The Experience I found the value of the group to be helpful because members identified different triggers, feelings, and experiences that contributed to their condition. For example, one person mentioned he always spends his birthday alone and is constantly being let down by people which triggered 3 his anxiety. A peer responded with a similar experience empathizing and offering words of encouragement. My key learning from this experience is that as “ok” as someone may look on the outside they may not be ok internally. As a future nurse, it is important to understand what the patient is going through and provide the appropriate patient education which may include recommending support groups as an outlet if a patient does not have any family support to show that there are resources available to help manage such conditions. Conclusion Support groups allow individuals suffering from a particular illness(es) to discuss and discover information and various treatments about their disorders. In addition, these groups can also uncover coping strategies and similar personal experiences. Sometimes these individuals are suffering in silence and only having access to medical professionals and that may not provide the much needed emotional support the individual might need. Ultimately, support groups provide a bridge between emotional and medical needs. 4 References Mental Health America. (2021). Find support groups. Retrieved May 30, 2021, from https://www.mhanational.org/find-support-groups Mental Health America (MIA). (2021). Mental Health America Mental health support group and discussion community. Mental Helath America (MIA). Retrieved May 30, 2021, from https://www.inspire.com/groups/mental-health-america/topic/anxiety-andphobias/?origin=tfr National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). (2021). Anxiety Disorders | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness Support. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved May 30, 2021, from https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-HealthConditions/Anxiety-Disorders/Support National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). (2021). Anxiety disorders | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved May 30, 2021, from https://www.nami.org/AboutMental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Anxiety-Disorders NUR 4525 FAU Support Group Discussion
