Why Small Group?

Have you struggled with self worth? Have you wrestled with your true purpose? Do you deal with addiction issues? Have you ever suffered from depression or anxiety? Have you recently experienced a significant loss? Are you lonely? Do you need to make life changes for your health and can’t seem to get unstuck? All of us can answer ‘yes’ to one or more of these questions.

“The greatest healing often takes place when we no longer feel isolated by our shame and guilt and discover that others often feel what we feel and think what we think and have the fears, apprehensions, and preoccupations we have.” Henri Nouwen, “Can You Drink The Cup?”

The human condition is a thing. It spares no one. Others have traveled the same difficult path that you have. Restore Small Groups opens up a sacred, safe space where people meet together and share empathy, authenticity, and compassion. This is where healing can take place.

Read on for more statistics on the healing effects of small group work.

 

The Problem:

-Loneliness and isolation decreases resiliency to stress, weakens immune function, increases symptoms of depression, and slows cognitive function. (The American Psychological Association). Cigna did a survey in 2019 that found 61% of Americans feel lonely.

-Every year more than 20 million people experience a substance abuse disorder. This doesn’t include the number of family members and friends that are impacted by the disease. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration)

-Nearly 7% of adults and 13% of adolescents experience a major depressive episode every year. Of the more than 19 million depressed people in the U.S.37% of adults and 60% of adolescents never receive any treatment. (The National Institute of Mental Health)

-According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people with chronic medical conditions are at higher risk of depression.

-According to a survey by SingleCare, out of 1000 adults, 59% said that their mental health was impacted by COVID-19 and 33% think that cost of mental health services is the biggest barrier to mental healthcare.

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The Solution:

-Renowned psycho analyst Carl Jung asserted that “the protective wall of human community” was one of the major general pathways to addiction recovery. (Alcoholics Anonymous Grapevine 1968)

-There is substantial evidence that the perceived availability of social support buffers the effects of stress or psychological distress, depression, and anxiety. (Social Relationships and Health, Cohen, S. 2004. American Psychologist November, 676-684)

-Higher hope was related to report more positive and fewer negative thoughts each day. (Hope Theory: Rainbow in the Mind, Psychology Inquiry 13, no. 4 2002 pas 249-275)

-According to the Center for Peer Support and Mental Health of America:

  • Peer support helps people prevent illness, manage chronic illness, cope with stress or emotional and psychological challenges, engage those who are poorly reached by health care systems and interventions, and reduces unnecessary care such as multiple hospital admissions fo the same problem.

  • People appreciate the way peer support provides a personal connection to understanding their health and expanding their own self-management. (Peers for Progress and the National Council of La Raza, 2014)

  • Peer Support is generally cost-effective and cost-saving.

  • Studies compare and show that peer-delivered services generate superior outcomes in terms of engaging “difficult to reach” individuals, reduce rates of hospitalization and days spent in inpatient, and decrease substance use among persons with co-occurring substance use disorders.

  • Other studies indicate that peer support improves symptoms of depression more than care as usual. (Pfeiffer et al, 2011).

  • Peer Support Helps people have a sense of hope about recovery (REPPER and CARTER 2011).

  • Individuals receiving peer support are more likely to have employment (REPPER and CARTER 2011).

  • Individuals receiving peer support report overall increases in their quality of life (SAMHSA 2016).

  • Peer services are effective in assisting individuals self-managing their whole health needs. Participants with peer support are significantly more likely to make connections to primary medical care. (Griswold, 2010)