GPS Group Peer Support

Happy #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth! This is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities and ensure their histories and contributions continue to thrive. It’s also a good time to raise awareness of the unique challenges that Native American people face and their potential affects on their mental health—factors like historical trauma, intergenerational poverty, difficulty accessing care, and more. McLean Hospital has information and free resources for providers seeking to better understand the issues and challenges that Native American people face or to better support the mental health needs of Native American patients and communities: bit.ly/4f30krX #NAHM #NAHM2024 #MentalHealth #PeerSupport

Positive results from our GPS for Refugee Support pilot program with Afghan girls and young women: • 85% want to learn to lead GPS groups for others • 79% rated our approach to refugee issues as good/excellent • 93% rated our facilitators as good/excellent "Before the group, I felt like I was the only one having hard feelings around being a refugee,” said one participant. “When I heard friends had the same things going on, I felt like I'm not alone." Learn more about how we support the mental wellness of refugees, evacuees, and immigrants: bit.ly/3YuJVa0

#ShubhDeepavali to all who begin celebrating today! May the light of Deepavali illuminate your home and heart with happiness and prosperity. Deepavali, also called Diwali, is a multi-day festival of lights widely celebrated by Hindus, as well as by Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists. #Diwali #Deepavali #MentalHealth #PeerSupport

Why GPS Groups are Advice-Free Zones We want to create safe and trauma-informed spaces where you can speak your truth and be supported as you lead your life in the way that makes sense for you. Often we are bombarded with advice. Even well-meaning advice can feel like criticism. We believe that each of us are the best people to lead our own lives. We believe that we each have the wisdom within to navigate the challenges before us when we are heard and respected. If we want advice and expertise, we can ask for it from the people we choose. Learn more at grouppeersupport.org #MentalHealth #PeerSupport

🤝 Partnership Spotlight! 🤝 We're thrilled to share that our CEO and Co-founder, Liz Friedman, will present at the Institute for Health and Recovery (IHR) tomorrow, Nov. 1! IHR's Moms Do Care Program utilizes our model of group-based mental wellness support to support participants as well as staff! We're proud to partner with organizations that prioritize staff well-being alongside participant care. By equipping healthcare professionals with our innovative support model, we're helping create stronger, more resilient teams.

No matter who we are or where we come from, we all face challenges. Research shows that the single most important factor in physical and emotional health, as well as success, is social support. Everyone thrives in a community of support, especially when times are tough. Interested in launching a GPS group in your community or organization? We’d love to help you get started. In this free webinar, GPS Program Director Nelly Willis teaches you the basics of starting a group. The webinar covers a range of topics including marketing, outreach to community providers, deciding on closed or open groups, participant intakes, online vs. in-person groups, using social media, and safety protocols. #PeerSupport #MentalHealth https://bit.ly/3vola3w

Ready to learn on your own time? GPS Online Self-Paced Facilitator Training is available now! GPS Group Peer Support provides you with a map to support people in your community. GPS is a perfect tool for diverse communities facing unique challenges. Whether you are supporting parents, frontline healthcare workers, students, faith communities, refugees and immigrants, communities striving for solidarity, those struggling because of COVID, those in recovery, or dealing with grief, GPS is an effective and impactful approach to support connection, resilience, and participant’s ability to act on behalf of themselves, their families and their communities. Participants in this training will learn: ◾ A trauma-informed, culturally responsive support group model that is easy to learn and implement in diverse settings, with diverse populations, and in multiple languages. ◾How to address the intersection of trauma, racism, poverty, disparities, cultural and gender identity, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, with compassion, transparency, and skill. ◾Unique trauma-informed skills to create environments of mutual respect, non-judgement, compassion, and safety. ◾How to incorporate evidence-based approaches of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction in groups. ◾A strengths-based group approach that ensures an accessible, welcoming, and transformational group experience for all. ◾How to run groups that support, empower and benefit not only the individuals and communities being served, but the group facilitators as well. Learn more or get started today: https://bit.ly/3xFco2m

Ready to learn on your own time? GPS Online Self-Paced Facilitator Training is available now! GPS Group Peer Support provides you with a map to support people in your community. GPS is a perfect tool for diverse communities facing unique challenges. Whether you are supporting parents, frontline healthcare workers, students, faith communities, refugees and immigrants, communities striving for solidarity, those struggling because of COVID, those in recovery, or dealing with grief, GPS is an effective and impactful approach to support connection, resilience, and participant’s ability to act on behalf of themselves, their families and their communities. Participants in this training will learn: ◾ A trauma-informed, culturally responsive support group model that is easy to learn and implement in diverse settings, with diverse populations, and in multiple languages. ◾How to address the intersection of trauma, racism, poverty, disparities, cultural and gender identity, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, with compassion, transparency, and skill. ◾Unique trauma-informed skills to create environments of mutual respect, non-judgement, compassion, and safety. ◾How to incorporate evidence-based approaches of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction in groups. ◾A strengths-based group approach that ensures an accessible, welcoming, and transformational group experience for all. ◾How to run groups that support, empower and benefit not only the individuals and communities being served, but the group facilitators as well. Learn more or get started today: https://bit.ly/3xFco2m

#TBT to April 2018: Wrapping up a weekend GPS training with a great group from Tucson Medical Center in Tucson, AZ! #MentalHealth #PeerSupport #ThrowbackThursday

"Before the group, I felt like I was the only one having hard feelings around being a refugee. When I heard friends had the same things going on, I felt like I'm not alone." Our GPS for Refugee Support program made a real difference for Afghan refugee teens and young women. Read the full impact report to see how group peer support helped participants break through intense isolation and instill hope: bit.ly/3YuJVa0 #PeerSupport #MentalHealth #Resettlement