Yesterday marked the last of a 4-part support group series and seven of us turned up. It wasa fun time of sharing and supporting each other as we bid the series its final farewell.
Support group sessions are hardly the norm here as many find such activities uncomfortable and unfamiliar. They are more popular in Western countries whereby people are more open to talk about their problems. In conservative Singapore, many tend to shy away from sharing their problems to each other for fear of ridicule or loss of face. Many also see little value in talking about their issues as what they really need are jobs not cheap talk. This is really a sad misconception on the value of support group.
The AA (Alcoholic Anonymous) group used support group activities alot to reach out to those who are alcoholic. Drug rehabilitaion groups also conduct support groups to enable participants to find support and solace from one another. It is true that when people of the own kind come together and talk about similar fears and issues, there is a theraupetic alliance automatically form there. People felt easier to share their problems to one another knowing that they are not alone. They are talking to people who will understand and empathsize with whatever they are sharing.
I remembered the support group we conducted few years back in CDC when I was still working as a staff there. Nine men and one woman came for four sessions conducted fortnightly. It was a theraupetic time for many who were jobless for more than six months as they poured out their inner most emotional turmoil during a tough period of their life. Surprisingly, seven found jobs one month immediately after the sessions ended and all of the participants agreed that it wastime well spent during such support group activities.
To be effective, support group participants need to “prepare” themselves to share and listen to one another. It will do the group no good if one or two people dominated the session proceedings. During such sessions, the moderator used a pillow to pass it on to whoever is speaking. Once he has finished, the pillow will be given to the next person who will be sharing his part. There is much respect and harmony here.
The moderator is also important here as he has to be sensitive to each sessionproceeding and ensure that for every session, there will be a theme topic so that participants have a focal point or else everyone comes expecting nothing in return. It becomes a free flow sharing session without any focus or agenda.
I am glad that our moderator Alan has done a good job here and we will take a break for a month before embarking on another series sometimes in July.
Meanwhile, I want to thank all who have turned up for our support group sessions. Your presence has enabled us to conduct the whole series successfully.
We want to hear from you if you have any further suggestions or ideas on how we can improve our support group activities in future.
Thank you.
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