Support Group for
Psoriasis Patients & Friends
Introduction
The Support Group exists to meet the social and emotional needs of patients afflicted with psoriasis who are receiving treatment at our Centre. It is an extended arm of the work of the Medical Social Work Department in that it helps to complement the one-to-one counselling approach of the MSWs. The group functions on a voluntary basis where it serves as a platform for discussion of psychosocial issues pertaining to psoriasis and for purposeful activities that will foster experiential learning of coping with psoriasis.
Objectives
The Support Group aims to:
- Provide social and emotional support to group members through identification, acceptance and emphatic listening.
- Help members come to terms with the chronic nature of their skin condition.
- Inculcate a positive attitude towards the condition through group participation in the activities
- Help strengthen the members' coping skills.
Strategy
To achieve these objectives, the Support Group:
- Organises purposeful group activities which will help gain insight into their problem and activities which will foster experiential learning.
- Provides an environment for open sharing and discussion of thoughts, feelings and problems so that they can learn from each other to cope better with their condition.
Activities
Some of the activities organised are:
- Talks on food, insurance and nutrition, etc.
- Job information and presentation
- Testimonies and sharing experiences
- Hospital visits
- Writing your own biographies for publication
- Recreation activities e.g., line-dancing
- Chit-chatting
- Pot-luck sessions
- Group outings e.g., picnic, chalet, high tea
- Relaxation techniques
- Discussion on coping with depression, anxiety and anger
- Discussion on how to cope with work problems
- Discussion on personal issues and
- Working with family members
What we do in the support group gatherings
- Introductory games to help participants to get to know each other
- Followed by a focused group discussion on a psoriasis-related topic
- Sharing of experiences and problems
- Coping with the skin disorder
- Feedback sessions
Ground Rules
- Everyone will be given the opportunity to speak
- We are here for each other. Keeping confidence is important
- Our only cause is to support and help each other
Finally
Call +65 9005 8264 for more information on Psoriasis Association of Singapore and its support group.
Upcoming Events
29 October 2011, Saturday
World Psoriasis Day
Time:9am to 1pm
Venue: Downtown East D'Tent
Programme outline: Taiji, walk story contest, singing, etc.
Copyright ©2011 Psoriasis Association of Singapore. All Rights Reserved.
Website Sponsor: JANSSEN-CILAG (a division of Johnson & Johnson Pte Ltd)
