Caregiver Support Group

SSC | A Caregiver Support Group

SSC is an Arizona-based behavioral health center that, in addition to its outpatient services, creates safe spaces to help address the common yet often overlooked side effects of cancer, like stress, anxiety, and depression. 

SSC Goals

Short-term:

1. Immediately benefit people who participate in the support groups.
2. Learn more about the caregiver experience and generate more knowledge about caregiver gaps/needs.

Long-term:

1. Maintain a supportive community for caregivers to enhance their emotional and practical well-being.
2. Improve caregivers' quality of life through ongoing support and resources.

SSC Overview

SSC is a support group on the MentalHappy Platform for informal caregivers of people facing cancer. MentalHappy is a HIPAA-compliant, secure platform where participants can normalize, speak about, and share practices to overcome life’s challenges. MentalHappy allows licensed practitioners and unlicensed coaches (with secondary vetting) to use the platform to cultivate topic-specific groups or communities.

Informal caregivers (spouse, parent, adult child, other family, friend) of cancer patients (any stage, at any point on the cancer care continuum) who are aged 18 years and older can participate. 

The group will be open for 12 weeks. During this time, members can interact with other caregivers through an asynchronous group feed and bi-monthly videoconference support group sessions.

SSC: Caregiver Support Group Description

Providing care for someone with cancer can be overwhelming. Informal caregivers (including relatives, spouses/partners, and friends) provide multiple forms of support in addition to managing a family, work, or other priorities. 

This is an expert-led & peer support group for caregivers of people with cancer where you will be encouraged to interact and connect with others to discuss the stresses, challenges, and rewards of providing care for your loved one. The group provides space to talk about several topics, including:

• Emotional and Physical Challenges: Discuss the emotional strain and physical demands of caregiving and share coping strategies.
• Managing Emotions: Explore ways to handle the emotional rollercoaster associated with a loved one’s cancer journey, from diagnosis through post-treatment.
• Identity Shifts: Discuss how becoming a caregiver can change one’s sense of self and ways to manage these changes.
• Balancing Act: Provide strategies for managing caregiving responsibilities alongside personal life and work.
• Building Support Networks: Encourage finding and utilizing support systems for personal resilience and relief.
• Navigating Changes: Offer a space to acknowledge and cope with the changes in the loved one's condition.
• Emotional Support for the Patient: Share methods to effectively provide emotional support to the person with cancer.
• Practical Advice: Give information on practical aspects like communicating with healthcare teams and understanding clinical trials.
• Coping with Loss: Facilitate discussions on dealing with loss, grieving processes, and ways to honor and remember loved ones.
• Resource Sharing: Provide access to resources and information to help caregivers make informed decisions and feel less isolated.

Participation

The group leader posts discussion topics and provides guidance and support for the group. Members are encouraged to share their thoughts/tips, support others, start conversations, and ask questions. Group members can also ask questions anonymously. 

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Group Meetings

Two times a month for virtual group sessions around a particular topic. Group leaders require cameras to be on for any virtual meetings.

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Who Qualifies?

You may qualify for our Caregiver Support Program if

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Caregiver Support Group Health Outcomes

The following metrics were used to evaluate the impact of the Caregiver Support Group:

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Self-Reported Results:

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Platform & Partnership Opportunities

MentalHappy is recognized as a safe and effective platform where mental health professionals can host their patient and client support groups. Learn More 

***Partnership Invitation

If your practice is at capacity and you cannot accept new patients, we are pleased to serve as a trusted resource highly recommended by therapists in our network.

Partner with Us

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***Confidentiality Assurance:

The information provided is inspired by the experiences shared within private support groups on the MentalHappy platform. Names and specific details have been altered to ensure data security and compliance with HIPAA regulations. While the content reflects real-life situations, it is not intended to represent any particular individual or group. Rather, it serves as a general reference to uphold confidentiality and protect the privacy of all participants.

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***Important Disclaimer***

• MentalHappy does not provide medical care or advice. By using our services, you acknowledge and agree that:

1. MentalHappy is not a medical care provider.
2. It is not a substitute for seeking medical care.
3. It does not provide therapy, medical, psychiatric, or psychological advice.
4. It cannot diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or condition.
5. Remember, this Caregiver Support Program is not for emergencies.some text
   1. If you or another person is in danger, call 911 immediately.
   2. If you are feeling suicidal, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline can help.

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