FAQ

No, there is no charge but we ask for a donation to cover the cost of refreshments and room hire.

No, you will not be under any pressure to say anything unless you want to.

It means somebody who uses services for their mental health. For example, some people may see a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist or attend an organisation to support them. When you attend our groups you are a service user of BIG.

Yes, you do not need to be seeing a professional or be on medication in order to come to the groups. If you consider yourself to have a mental health problem, whether mild or severe, you are very welcome to attend.

The groups are for people with mental health problems. However, if you needs a support worker or carer in order to attend the group, that person may accompany you for the first session.

Yes, people who attend are at different stages of their recovery. This is one of the strengths as we learn from one another and provide hope and mutual support. By attending the groups we can maintain and strengthen our recovery to prevent going into crisis.

Peer support may be defined as the help and support that people with lived experience of a mental illness are able to give each other. It may be social, emotional or practical support but importantly the support is mutually offered and reciprocal allowing peers to benefit from support whether they are giving or receiving. Mental Health Foundation 

The professionals who give talks are not there to deal with individual cases, they come to the groups voluntarily in their own personal time and help in a general way but you must consult your own clinician for specific advice.