Support and Skill Building Groups for Friends and Family Members at CCI

Support and Skill-Building Groups for Friends and Family Members at CCI.

Here at the Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) we are conscious that anyone who provides care and support to a partner, relative, or friend while they are experiencing a mental health problem plays a really important role in providing emotional and practical support to their loved one. We are keen to help people learn how they can best support their loved ones.

At CCI we offer Support and Skill-Building Groups for people who have a loved one who has an Eating Disorders and also for people who have a loved one with Bipolar Disorder. These interactive groups provide information about the disorders and give participants an opportunity to share their personal experiences of supporting a person with a mental health problem, as well as providing the opportunity for participants to learn helpful skills and strategies relating to their support role.

We have found that these brief groups have a big impact, and that people report feeling less burdened as well as more skilled, knowledgeable, and confident following their attendance at these groups. We have recently published research on this, which you can read more about here.

If you live in Western Australia and are interested in attending one of these support groups, you are able to register by phoning 9227 4399 or emailing CCI.General@health.wa.gov.au. Groups run for 2.5 hours in the early evening and are held on the same day across two consecutive weeks at regular intervals throughout the year. We do not require that attendees at these groups have a loved one who is currently receiving treatment at CCI; these groups are open to any individual who is supporting a person with an Eating Disorder or Bipolar Disorder and aim to enhance the confidence of the individuals in these crucial support roles.

For information about the role of support people (or ‘carers’) you can click here to view our Information for Carers brochure.

Last Updated: 13/07/2021