Every Wednesday evening in the ‘Croi na Gaillimhe’ building on Mill Street, trained Aware Volunteers provide a welcoming space for Galway Adults to gather and talk about their mental health. Local volunteers speak from experience of how they’ve seen peer to peer support provide comfort and connection for those living with depression and anxiety.
Aware is the national charity providing support, therapy, education and information to those affected by depression, bipolar and anxiety. The Galway In-Person ‘Support and Selfcare Group’ has been in place for a number of years, Jean a longstanding Aware volunteer for over thirty years recounts that while the group location has changed, it’s methods and results remain the same, “it’s a safe respectful place, providing peer to peer support, my role is to listen and encourage”, so people feel comfortable to share. She notes over the years she can sometimes notice a sense of relief in those who come along and take part; “people have different ways of managing things, we’re not all the same, but we might find a useful recommendation from listening to someone else’s experience… sometimes just sharing something out loud will allow a person to find a solution in themselves”. Aisling shared “it’s really humbling to see how people relate to each other”, explaining a group can have people from different walks of life, who find acceptance and recognition when sharing their experiences. Declan notes “peer support can be a powerful tool for recovery and connection in addressing mental health difficulties… even simply for attendees to learn; you are not alone in this; there are others going through challenges too”.
Read more and register to attend the next Aware ‘Support and Self Care Group’ in Galway at aware.ie/support
No referral is needed, although if attending a doctor/therapist, Aware recommends keeping them informed.
