📢 Support Group Break (Aug 12 - 18)

TheMix

Alt text: black woodland creature lying in tent with blankets, fairy lights, and a book.

If you don't know what a Support Group break is, click the spoiler below. ⤵

What is a Support Group break?
Roughly three times a year, we have a week (or two) where we take a break from running our support groups.

These breaks allow staff, volunteers, and you guys to take a breather. If you use Support Groups often, breaks are a good opportunity to try new services and expand your support network.

When we can, we also use these periods to review community feedback, reflect on how things are going in the community, and look what we might want to work on next.

When is the next break?
The next break will be from Monday 12th August-18th August. The usual Support Group schedule will resume as normal on Monday 19th August.

This break will include Support Circle and Friday chat threads.

A lot of you know the staff team has been working on internal capacity and resources, and that will continue to be our focus during this chat break.

We won't be running a community quiz this time round as there will be one coming up on Monday 19th August!

Where can I go instead?
Our discussion boards will be open for you to connect with others going through similar experiences

If you want somewhere like General Chat, you can check out: General Chat, Chit Chat or head over to the
Positivity Corner.

If you're at breaking point, our Crisis Messenger is also open as usual. Text THEMIX to 85258. You can also head to this thread to find more crisis options if you need urgent support.

Questions? Drop them below

TheNightmare

I have found chat breaks a bit harder recently, ages ago I didn't mind them maybe even saw the benefits of them over the disadvantages of them but recently I have struggled without them, so I'm glad to hear this one is a bit shorter.

Gemma

Thank you for sharing how you're feeling @TheNightmare. We know breaks can be difficult, especially when we're familiar with a particular service and use it often.

We schedule these breaks in to allow staff, volunteers, and you all to take a breather as we'd otherwise be running our support schedule every week of the year. One of the reasons why we wouldn't want to run our service every week of the year is that it's important to take moments to reflect, recharge, and appreciate all the progress you've made being part of the community. Breaks are fundamental to our wellbeing as they give us a chance to try new services, expand our support network and explore how we can take care of ourselves in different ways. It's super important that we all have options for support outside of this community.

How do you think you can take care of yourself this break?

TheNightmare

Gemma wrote: »

Thank you for sharing how you're feeling @TheNightmare. We know breaks can be difficult, especially when we're familiar with a particular service and use it often.

We schedule these breaks in to allow staff, volunteers, and you all to take a breather as we'd otherwise be running our support schedule every week of the year. One of the reasons why we wouldn't want to run our service every week of the year is that it's important to take moments to reflect, recharge, and appreciate all the progress you've made being part of the community. Breaks are fundamental to our wellbeing as they give us a chance to try new services, expand our support network and explore how we can take care of ourselves in different ways. It's super important that we all have options for support outside of this community.

How do you think you can take care of yourself this break?

@gemma they can be but I guess once you get a few days in they can be easier too plus like I say this one is shorter.

True all that is important too like mods need a break and staff do. Yh reflecting and all of that is important too.

I guess like I can use other services also I can make threads too if needed.

Chloe234

I know it sais roughly but are these going to continue more often? Usually it's roughly 3 times a year but won't this be the third one this year? There's Usually one nearer to Christmas isn't there?

Aoife

That's a great question @Chloe234. We do try and have around 3 a year usually around every 3-4 months and one in January time just after Christmas.

We've added an extra one this week as we're working as a smaller team at the moment

@TheNightmare those sound like some great ways to look after yourself this week. We'd definitely encourage you to make threads if you're looking for some support this week, and reaching out to other services sounds great too

Gemma

Just a reminder that our support group break finishes today and the usual schedule resumes tonight. You can see our upcoming support group schedule here.