Why Support Groups are back and how YOU can help

by | May 25, 2021

When the pandemic first took hold over the world, we all scrambled to figure out how to live, how to work and how to stay safe. When it became clear that COVID-19 is not a passing flu and people started to really suffer emotionally, we launched free support groups and a series on parenting. Both of those initiatives ended as the community interest ended.

We’re now well into the second year of the pandemic. While some countries are seeing improvements, it’s far from over and there are places in the world where the worst is happening now. India, for example, is suffering on multiple fronts (see a graphic and excerpt from The Ken below).

India is where Coacharya started and where many members of our global community reside. We can’t sit by and watch people’s lives fall apart in front of our eyes. While we can’t solve the problem, we can offer support and a sympathetic ear. We’ve brought back the free support groups to try and do what’s in our power to help people through these trying times.

But we need your help.

Our community is strong, supportive and global. But its size is limited. For support groups to truly support those in need, they need to reach beyond Coacharya’s limitations.

How you can help

  1. Share this page on your social media and email it to anyone you think could benefit from attending. It’s 100% free and we have a group every day.
  2. Share the promotional images (they’re on the bottom of this page) along with the registration page on your social media. Just right-click to download ones that you like, or make your own. The registration page is https://coacharya.com/support-groups/ so just be sure to point people there.
  3. Email any social services, neighborhood groups, NGOs that you know that work with underserved populations to let them know these groups exist. That’s who needs the most support right now. And if you’re not comfortable reaching out, but you have a contact that can help, please connect them to us directly. Use the contact form to let us know what the organization is and who there would be able to help.
  4. Share the support groups with people you know in India. The situation worsening there is the driver behind restarting support groups because this is the need of the hour there.
  5. If there’s another way you think you can help, contact us. We’d love to hear from you.

What’s Happening in India

From The Ken special report this week:

In March 2020, we started Beyond the First Order to map the consequences of Covid-19. Over a year later, we continue to bring you the second-order effects of this pandemic. As India battles the second wave, some of these consequences have become more brutal. This edition is a reflection of that.

Our healthcare reporters Ruhi and Maitri, along with our designer Prajakta, got together to map this impact that could push India’s healthcare system to the brink. Needless to say, it is a grim one.

From a fungus that is spreading faster than the fastest-growing cancer to the lack of a central policy to tackle complications like Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children. Besides health, the second surge is also exposing gaps in our child welfare system that can lead to more trafficking. This is an important edition, do share.

How Support Groups Work

  1. You register on the support group page or using the short form below.
  2. You’ll receive a confirmation email that includes the Zoom link as well as password to join.
  3. You can drop in to any scheduled support group as much as you like. They will take place M-W-F-Su at 6pm IST and T-Th-Sa at 9am IST, until further notice. You can convert to your local timezone here.
  4. When you join, you’ll need to e-sign a short liability waiver.
  5. A facilitator (who is a trained coach or counselor) will anchor the call.
    • All sessions will be in English.
    • You will have the ability to edit what name is displayed.
    • The calls will not be recorded.
    • You can speak up or just listen to others sharing their experiences.

Support groups are meant to be a safe space to express what you’re going through and connect with others who may be in the same boat. There’s no judgment, commitment or expectations.

Register for Support Groups

Kiwa S
Kiwa S

Kiwa

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