Welcome to Self Help Services

A decade ago, there were very few self-help groups in Manchester. In 1995 two anxiety sufferers came together to create a group to meet up, offer support and break the sense of isolation felt by others with anxiety in the city. That first group was a great success, creating friendships and social support networks that helped build self-confidence and esteem amongst members. A second group was quickly established helping those suffering from depression and gradually the benefit of self-help groups became apparent. During the period 1995-2006, over 30 self-help groups have been developed across the North West with the support of Self Help Services. These include services in Trafford and Blackpool.

Self Help Services is a user-led voluntary organisation that co-ordinates self-help support groups and other self-help initiatives for people experiencing mental-ill health, discrimination, social exclusion and/or emotional problems.

We already have in existence a diverse range of support groups and services. At the moment the majority of our groups run on a ‘drop-in’ basis where people have the opportunity to meet others and talk in a mutually supportive atmosphere. These groups range from focusing on specific mental health issues to groups more socially orientated in nature.
Self Help Services’ support groups provide a free space for people to discuss life experiences and to exchange advice/coping strategies. Essentially the self-help groups help to break isolation and provide people with the opportunity to take control of their own lives and manage their own problems.

A self-help group is an excellent way to meet others who have been through similar experiences. In meeting others, the isolation that so many of us feel, is inevitably relieved.
At a Self Help Services self-help group you can be certain that everything you and others discuss will be kept in the strictest confidence and that you can meet others in a safe and understanding environment. Often attending a group is a good way to find out how others have coped; what worked for them etc. as well as enabling you to develop relationships with others who really do ‘understand’.

In addition, Self Help Services also coordinates structured support groups delivered by qualified voluntary therapists/psychologists who have personal experience with the issues involved with their group. Over a number of weeks the facilitators of these groups deliver a range of therapies most beneficial to their client group. Therapies include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Social Skills Training for Anger Management, Social Anxiety Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder.

Volunteers are essential to Self Help Services as they are the people who deliver the groups and services.

Self Help Services strongly believes in user-led services, therefore facilitators of the support groups are not experts, but group members who have experienced the same issues a particular group deals with. Facilitators dedicate two hours a week to their group; making sure each person has time to talk, advertise the group and provide refreshments. Most importantly, the volunteers empower members of the community to help themselves.

All volunteers are fully supervised, have undertaken an enhanced criminal record disclosure check and are provided with on-going training. Volunteers receive support, line management and regular external supervision from Self Help Services. All volunteers undertake a programme of mandatory training, which includes facilitation & boundary skills training, dealing with difficult situations and mental health awareness training. Self Help Services encourages personal development, therefore all facilitators have the opportunity to take advantage of in-house training programmes and courses provided by external training providers. Additionally, many facilitators undertake further in-depth training in their area of work/interest.

The structured self-help support groups (Anger Management, Sociability, BPD Skills Training) and the complementary therapy services are all delivered by fully qualified practitioners, therapists or teachers who have personal experience with mental-ill health and extensive experience working with in the field of mental health.

home about us latest news groups computerised cognitive behavioural therapy primary care mental health service complementary therapy services consultancy primary care mental health user participation contact us	recruitment \| volunteer \| vacancies Groups > About Self Help Groups A decade ago, there were very few self-help groups in Manchester. In 1995 two anxiety sufferers came together to create a group to meet up, offer support and break the sense of isolation felt by others with anxiety in the city. That first group was a great success, creating friendships and social support networks that helped build self-confidence and esteem amongst members. A second group was quickly established helping those suffering from depression and gradually the benefit of self-help groups became apparent. During the period 1995-2006, over 30 self-help groups have been developed across the North West with the support of Self Help Services. These include services in Trafford and Blackpool. Self Help Services is a user-led voluntary organisation that co-ordinates self-help support groups and other self-help initiatives for people experiencing mental-ill health, discrimination, social exclusion and/or emotional problems. We already have in existence a diverse range of support groups and services. At the moment the majority of our groups run on a ‘drop-in’ basis where people have the opportunity to meet others and talk in a mutually supportive atmosphere. These groups range from focusing on specific mental health issues to groups more socially orientated in nature. Self Help Services’ support groups provide a free space for people to discuss life experiences and to exchange advice/coping strategies. Essentially the self-help groups help to break isolation and provide people with the opportunity to take control of their own lives and manage their own problems. A self-help group is an excellent way to meet others who have been through similar experiences. In meeting others, the isolation that so many of us feel, is inevitably relieved. At a Self Help Services self-help group you can be certain that everything you and others discuss will be kept in the strictest confidence and that you can meet others in a safe and understanding environment. Often attending a group is a good way to find out how others have coped; what worked for them etc. as well as enabling you to develop relationships with others who really do ‘understand’. In addition, Self Help Services also coordinates structured support groups delivered by qualified voluntary therapists/psychologists who have personal experience with the issues involved with their group. Over a number of weeks the facilitators of these groups deliver a range of therapies most beneficial to their client group. Therapies include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and Social Skills Training for Anger Management, Social Anxiety Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. Volunteers are essential to Self Help Services as they are the people who deliver the groups and services. Self Help Services strongly believes in user-led services, therefore facilitators of the support groups are not experts, but group members who have experienced the same issues a particular group deals with. Facilitators dedicate two hours a week to their group; making sure each person has time to talk, advertise the group and provide refreshments. Most importantly, the volunteers empower members of the community to help themselves. All volunteers are fully supervised, have undertaken an enhanced criminal record disclosure check and are provided with on-going training. Volunteers receive support, line management and regular external supervision from Self Help Services. All volunteers undertake a programme of mandatory training, which includes facilitation & boundary skills training, dealing with difficult situations and mental health awareness training. Self Help Services encourages personal development, therefore all facilitators have the opportunity to take advantage of in-house training programmes and courses provided by external training providers. Additionally, many facilitators undertake further in-depth training in their area of work/interest. The structured self-help support groups (Anger Management, Sociability, BPD Skills Training) and the complementary therapy services are all delivered by fully qualified practitioners, therapists or teachers who have personal experience with mental-ill health and extensive experience working with in the field of mental health. ..