Boost
A course to help build emotional resilience and improve wellbeing.Benefit of peer support
“Peer support” refers to a process through which people who share common experiences or face similar challenges come together as equals to give and receive help based on the knowledge that comes through shared experience. Peer support groups aim to improve the well-being of attendees by providing increased social connections with their peers. Fostering relationships among people can help prevent significant mental health problems such as major depression and debilitating anxiety or help to cope with long term illnesses such as dementia. Peer Support groups offer a reassuring, confidential and safe place to talk to others about how problems or situations affect their lives.
Location
No93 - Health and Wellbeing Centre
Harpurhey
Project team
No93
Aim
The aim of the project was to improve emotional wellbeing and resilience and teach coping strategies for stressful situations
The boost course is a free 7 week training course aimed at improving emotional wellbeing and resilience by teaching coping strategies that individuals can take in to their everyday lives
This is a training programme that has been run by buzz in the past and has been popular with services and the community.
We have received feedback via community conversations and services getting in touch saying that they would like to attend a boost course hence we set one up
After the course we will deliver a reunion session, around 4/5 weeks after to see how people have been feeling since the session finished
Testimonials:
‘This course has been a contributing factor in increasing my social activity.’
‘It helps you to be self-aware and gives you a better understanding to deal with life’s hurdles’
‘I now have a better outlook on life and how to handle situations differently in stead of me having a break down’
‘This course has helped me to understand myself more and really helps me to improve my wellbeing’
‘Its impowering and practical for one’s health and wellbeing, I make more of an effort to prioritise my time in order to ensure that I take care of my needs. It has also help me feel more confident and open to healthy change.’
Evaluation
The course was successful and helped people who attended to grow in confidence and improved their wellbeing.
Strategic links to local/national policies
|
Benefit |
Policy |
|
Increased mental wellbeing |
|
|
Increased social connections |
|
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Shared knowledge & experiences |
Taking Charge of our Health and Social Care in Greater Manchester (GMCA, 2015) |
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Help with problems/disabilities |
Healthy Lives, Healthy People (MH Government, 2010) Taking Charge of our Health and Social Care in Greater Manchester (GMCA, 2015) |
|
Lessen isolation and loneliness |
Manchester Population Health Plan |
Research/evidence base
Barak, A. (2008) Fostering empowerment in online support groups. Computers in Human Behavior, 24, 1867–83
DeLisle, V.C. (2016) Effect of support group peer facilitator training programmes on peer facilitator and support group member outcomes: a systematic review. BMJ Open. Nov 17;6(11):e013325.
Chung JE. (2013) Social Networking in Online Support Groups for Health: How Online Social Networking Benefits Patients. Journal of Health Communication, 0:1–21.
Turner KA. (2019) Effects of training and support programs for leaders of illness-based support groups: commentary and updated evidence. Systematic Reviews, Mar 5;8(1):67
Yi-Chia Wang Eliciting and receiving online support: using computer-aided content analysis to examine the dynamics of online social support. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2015 Apr 20;17(4):e99
Dosani S. Online groups and patient forums. Current Psychiatry Reports. 2014 Nov;16(11):507
Contact
Lauren Evans - buzz Neighbourhood Health Worker
T: 0161 271 0565
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