Where Can I Turn for Support?

Support groups are available to people dealing with a variety of life’s challenges. According to an article in the textbook Psychiatric Nursing, over 20 percent of Americans have participated in some type of self-help group. With online support groups increasing in number, the percentage is growing rapidly. Chances are good there is an online support group or community-based support group that can help to provide you the support you need.

Support groups may provide several benefits:

• A safe, non-judgmental atmosphere for sharing feelings
• A social outlet for connecting with others facing similar situations
• A source of reliable information-sharing
• A place to learn how others have coped with challenges similar to the ones you are facing
• Support from others who understand from personal experience what you are going through
• The reassurance that you are not alone

There are many types of support groups, including groups of caregivers, groups with a focus on a particular disease such as mesothelioma, and family-centered groups.

Characteristics of a successful group may include some or all of the following:

• A caring atmosphere and trust among members
• A mix of participants
• Clear structure and purpose
• Agreement on group rules, including confidentiality
• A good facilitator

You may feel more comfortable with an online support group, which you can participate in from the privacy of your home. Or you may want to find a community-based support group. For more information about cancer support groups, see the National Cancer Institute’s “Cancer Support Groups: Questions and Answers.”