Why are support groups only during work hours?

[Latte]

I can't seem to find any support group that is after working hours. I do not want to take time of my work.

[azaard]

Talk. To this lot, someone will have the answers your looking for,,

[Hidden]

azaard is right, there is a lot of us unprofessional support friends here all evening and into the night

[Hidden]

I would have thought that this group would have a great support group -- unofficially.

[serenityfrank]

How about Breathe Easy meetings?

Frank

[Hidden]

If you are depressed or have suicidal tendencuies you can still access a real person on the other end of the phone through the Samaritans.

samaritanshope.org/index.ph...

There are loads of on-line support groups also accessible 24/7 unless the site goes down of course due to some 404 error or internet connectivity.

For other professional organisations they usually run during normal working hours.

Find out from your GP what is available to you and if they operate outside normal working hours.

Sometimes there are weekend workshops and support groups run by professional Counsellors, check your library information area about what groups or courses are available. Stress Management, Anger Management, Dealing with Loss, Assertive training etc etc.

Lastly, ask yourself, if you don't get the support you need is it going to start affecting your working life anyway, if this is the case it makes sense to get some help whenever you can, during or outside working hours.

Hope you find what you are looking for Latte.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Here is the UK samaritans contact for any one living in the UK:

samaritans.org/

[Hidden]

I agree with you Latte. It is not about depression it is about linking up with people who know what we face and so can be supportive. The Breathe Easy groups are ideal places for this but most of them (all?) are run during working hours and so cannot be accessed by anyone still working. That leaves peer support here and the BLF helpline for queries.

[Latte in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for confirming times. I really don't want to have to take time off.

[Latte]

Thank you for all the replies.

[Fusion8d in reply to Latte]

I find it strange too! It's been touch and go a few times over the past two years for me in respect of keeping well enough to work and as my husband is already medically retired I am the breadwinner for the family - hubby and two teenage boys. Surely it's in everyone's best interests to help people like me keep fit enough to work?

[Latte in reply to Fusion8d]

Gosh.. not easy for you.

That's exactly why i don't understand why they can't provide evening ones.

[Hidden in reply to Latte]

You could set up an out of hours breathe easy group yourself if you think there are enough numbers to join you in the area.

blf.org.uk/BreatheEasy

Have a chat with the blf helpline to find out more.

Most of the breathe easy groups are run by lung patients that are not able to work, mostly evenings are too tiring for a lot of lung patients. But perhaps you could start another generation of breathe easy groups.

[Hidden in reply to Fusion8d]

If you are talking fitness, after PR which is run by NHS, lung patients often attend usual healthy lung exercise classes and gym, some cardiac and lung exercise instructors offer classes privately and some of these are held in the evening.

Not all breathe easy groups have exercise included, its worth checking with your local contacts.

blf.org.uk/BreatheEasy

Or check further with BLF helpline.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Above for Fusion8d

[Fusion8d in reply to Hidden]

Thank you to everyone. I do like to go to the gym but since major spinal surgery in March 2012 my gym won't let me back in until my surgeon has said it's OK. Unfortunately the review with the surgeon, which was supposed to be around the first anniversary of the op, has just been pushed out until June. I know there isn't a conspiracy against me, but I do sometimes wonder.....

[Hidden in reply to Fusion8d]

Somethings you can change, other things you can't, it take wisdom to know the difference.

~Major spinal surgery takes time to heal and is bound to interefere with helping you to keep fit for work - no doubt.

But I think you must be doing remarkably well to still be working and managing to look after your husband and two teenage boys. Well done you.

Hope your recovery from the surgery is 100%

[Hidden]

Don't know why Latte but that does seem to be usual. My previous employer did allow me time off work for counselling. But I would much rather have kept it private. I guess counsellors don't want to work unsociable hours. Makes you wonder how dedicated they are doesn't it? I found the same thing at gyms I was offered..

I also found it hard to visit my doctor as the first appointments are at 8.30 last ones 5.30. They kept insisting I ring them at 8.30 even though I kept telling them I would be on the bus for work at that time! Eventually they did tell me they kept a few appointments early and late for those at work but I had to see who was on duty at the time.

I remember the days blah blah when doctors worked until 8pm and they were always packed.

Bev x