🧵We've been leading support groups for #ICU survivors for nearly 10 years (over 2 years with #LongCovid patients). Across literally thousands of patient encounters, what have we learned? I'll unpack these insights in tweets to follow. Thanks for reading them. @CIBScenter 1/10
To begin, the ROI for support groups is enormous- they require minimal expenses, utilize few resources, allow you to touch the lives of sometimes dozens of people at the same time, and contribute to changed lives. An inexpensive way to make a big impact. 2/10
They require competent leaders who understand group processes. You can find such people or you can become one but make sure that for at least one group leader, this is not their "first rodeo." We don't all have to be experts but we owe members that much. 3/10
The "mix" of group members matters - there can be tremendous diversity in the group but members should have goals in common, a shared vision, and a willingness to commit to the group process. 4/10
Approaches vary across the spectrum - from "pure" support to highly didactic approaches. In our experience, a hybrid of these two general models is best - where some structure exists but is introduced and shaped by group participants. 5/10
Content varies widely but with #PICS and #LongCovid survivors, there are consistent themes. Coping with grief and loss, grappling with issues of identity, learning to accept a "new normal", growing in the ability to be vulnerable, finding meaning in suffering. 6/10
When is right time for people to start a support group? Literally anytime. Immediately after a diagnosis or, for that matter, long years after. The key is being ready - ready to engage, ready to receive, ready to participate in a community. 7/10
What are the outcomes we see? We need to be better at formally measuring these. In general, people feel less alone, more affirmed and accepted, and understood, more willing to take risks, and less ashamed. 8/10
If you are a provider and you are considering starting a support group for #PICS or #LongCovid survivors, what's stopping you? What are the barriers to entry? If you wait until you are completely ready, you'll never start. We're here to help at @CIBScenter 9/10
To the many people - hundreds - who have trusted us and engaged in our support groups, we can never thank you enough for your courage, vulnerability, and wisdom, which you model each and every week. Supporting you is one of the privileges of our life. @CIBScenter @WesElyMD 10/10
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