Establishing Support Teams

Overview

You do not have to face your condition alone. Having caring people around you is important for everyone.

A support team of friends, family members and others in your local community can:

- Empathise with your problems and experiences 
- Listen without judging or criticizing 
- Offer practical help and support 
- Share information about your condition and its treatment 
- Provide opportunities for fun activities and social interaction 
- Help you get the care you need when you can't help yourself 

Your Personal Support Team

Your personal support team should consist of people who make you feel good, support you and provide a positive influence. They are people you feel comfortable turning to in difficult times.

To start, list the people in your life who would make good support team members. Add to this list as you build more relationships. Your personal support team can include:

Your spouse or partner 
Family members 
Healthcare professionals 
Old friends 
New friends 
Members of a local support group 
Community members 
Others 
Once you have developed a list of people you would like on your personal support team, consider the following:

- Ask people on your list if they would be willing to become members of your support team. 
- Choose enough people so you don't have to rely on anyone too much. 
- Let your supporters know you don't expect them to be available all of the time. 
- Set up regular times for contact. Even if you don't see one another in person, connect regularly by phone or e-mail. 
- Tell your supports there might be times when you just need them to listen and other times when you ask for feedback and advice. 
- Spend quality time together and share activities you both enjoy. Take walks, see movies, play music together, share meals. Make your time together enjoyable. 
- Make the arrangement mutually beneficial -- be willing to listen and give support, too. 
- Educate your supporters about your condition. Let them know who your healthcare providers are and how to contact them. 
- Create a support phone list and share it with all members of your team. 

Your Community Support Team

For your community support team, you should try to have several people who are willing to make a commitment to be available as a supporter. It might feel hard to make these efforts to meet people, but if you can get out there, your efforts are likely to pay off over time. Here are some ideas for how you can build your support team:

Attend Local Support Group Meetings

One of the best places to find personal supporters is in support groups where people who have the same condition come together for self-help and support. These groups provide the opportunity to be with people who are dealing with the same problems and issues. They provide a place where you don't have to hide your problem. Because group members understand what you're going through, it's easy to talk with them. Group members can often offer tips for handling problems associated with your condition.

Support groups can be found in the following ways:

- Look at community calendar listings on the Web sites of local hospitals 
- Look at community listings on local radio or television station Web sites 
- Look in the calendar section of your local newspaper 
- Get a referral from your healthcare professional 

Seeking support and a sense of community with other people who have the same condition can improve your general health and well being. Talking with other people who have similar experiences and successes can be a great help. Check with your doctor before you act on any medical or health-related advice!

Volunteer

Another great way to find supportive friends is by volunteering for one of the many organisations that need help. Volunteering provides opportunities for you to do something for the community while meeting others with similar interests. By volunteering regularly, you can develop new friendships and meet people who might be willing to become supporters.

Attend Community Groups

Every community has plenty of activities in which you can become involved. Check your local newspaper to see what's going on in your area. Then attend community activities on a regular basis.

Take A Class

Community education classes are great places to meet people and most are relatively inexpensive. Maybe you're interested in ceramics, woodworking, cooking, hiking or literature. Check with your local community college, recreation department or local newspaper.