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Peer Group Chat // The Importance of ‘I’ // Thursday 22nd June 2023, 7-8:30PM AEST

amber22Senior Contributor16 June 2023, 9:09 am AEST

Peer Group Chat // The Importance of ‘I’ // Thursday 22nd June 2023, 7-8:30PM AEST

Hey everyone!

On Thursday 22nd of June 2023, we will be holding a Peer Group Chat on the topic of The Importance of ‘I’!

Being able to stand up for yourself or people you care about can be really important in many areas of life. Assertiveness is a skill that can be developed and practiced by anyone. It all starts with ‘I’.

The event start times across Australia are below:

Western Australia: 5pm
Northern Territory & South Australia: 6:30pm

Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria & Tasmania: 7pm

For anyone unfamiliar with Peer Group Chats, each focuses on a specific topic and is guided by Peer Workers with lived experience of mental health issues and recovery, &/or caring for someone with complex mental health. A counsellor is also present as a moderator to help ensure a safe environment for individuals and the group. It is a space for us as peers to share our stories and experiences, and connect with those who are going through something similar.

Anyone is welcome to join! Tagging some members who may be interested below:

@Shaz51 @Snowie @Oaktree @Appleblossom @Bobbie @Former-Member @Jacques @creative_writer @Captain24 @Former-Member @Gillie @Gillie1 @tonys @wellwellwellnez @Birdofparadise8 @Messylife @Bow @Former-Member @chibam @ShiningStar @CloudBerry @Shaymanpihama @StuF @Dimity @Kyle1 @Emergence @outlander @Meowmy

Peer Group Chats are hosted outside of the forums, using a platform called Chatwee.

To join an Online Peer Group and participate, you will need to register for an account with Chatwee.
To access the group to observe only and not participate, you can access Chatwee as a Guest.
On the night, follow this link to access Chatwee before the group starts.
You can join our Peer Group Chats every Thursday from 7:00-8:30pm (AEDT). Check out the FAQs page for more information.

We hope to see you there 😊 If you can't make it but are interested, you can always catch up reading the transcript afterwards here. We also invite you to continue the conversation below on this thread if you can't make the night but also wish to contribute some of your responses. We will post some dot point prompts on the day that can get the conversation started if you're unable to make the live event!

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In response to: Peer Group Chat // The Importance of ‘I’ // Thursday 22nd June 2023, 7-8:30PM AEST

TideisTurningSenior Contributor12 July 2023, 11:55 am AEST

Re: Peer Group Chat // The Importance of ‘I’ // Thursday 22nd June 2023, 7-8:30PM AEST

Oooh @Former-Member this is a really good point and I'm glad you've brought it back for further discussion here 😊

Assertiveness and setting boundaries can be really tricky when it comes to needing help and support. I'm not sure I necessarily know what the answer is- it's likely different for everyone and also depending on the situation, but I feel like 'I' statements are likely to be super helpful, whatever the specific scenario. There might be a few possibilities in the kinds of specific situations you've described, like having a conversation to establish boundaries before you're in a position of needing support (where possible) so the expectations and boundaries are already understood, or maybe seeking to have a conversation in the moment when something arises (or as soon after as possible). Something I've found helpful for myself in similar situations is having an idea of a preferable alternative I can suggest. For example, in the context of receiving support, outlining what support I find helpful (I also talk about what I find unhelpful on occasion too) and sometimes, why it’s helpful/ unhelpful or otherwise preferable for me.

I feel like something important to remember in these kinds of scenarios as well is that it is your support, so it needs to work for you. if it's not for whatever reason, it's OK, and important to speak up and seek to change things. that's just my thoughts, but I'm interested to hear the perspectives of others as well! @tonys @Appleblossom @TAB What do y'all think?

In response to: Re: Peer Group Chat // The Importance of ‘I’ // Thursday 22nd June 2023, 7-8:30PM AEST

AppleblossomSenior Contributor12 July 2023, 5:21 pm AEST

Re: Peer Group Chat // The Importance of ‘I’ // Thursday 22nd June 2023, 7-8:30PM AEST

I think it is a huge question @TideisTurning

Thanks @Former-Member for unpacking it a bit more.

I am not good in setting boundaries even though I have done lot of work in last 7 years to research it and get better at it. It seems to have a lot to do with the AMOUNT of RESOURCES people have ... whether financial and social ... marginalised people are most likely to have less of both.

Sturggling with it a lot at moment ... as I am too used to accepting a lot of put downs and dissmissive comments and not good at articulating my needs ... in a way .. people can understand ... think I will use ... what I find unhelpful ... in upcoming car trip this weekend ... hmmm ... thanks for tag @TideisTurning

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