«There are 118 self-help groups on the topic of family»
There are many topics in the family where an exchange with fellow sufferers can be worth its weight in gold. Three questions for Pascal Pfister, Communications Officer, about the Self-Help Switzerland bus tour (2 to 25 May).
Mr Pfister, self-help groups take place in an intimate setting - why are you going on a bus tour?
The range of self-help groups is still too little known and the term scares many people off.
puts many people off. On the bus, you can find out about offers in the region, at the various locations
different locations on different key topics: in Aarau, for example, on cancer, in St. Gallen on unemployment and in Ticino on the topic of family.
For which family topics are there self-help groups?
When relatives are ill or someone dies, self-help groups can offer concrete support. There are groups for parents of young people with mental or other illnesses. And there are groups on topics such as puberty, adoption, single parents, separated parents and parenting. In Switzerland, there are 118 groups on all major family topics.
There are many clichés about self-help groups. What does the reality look like?
The form varies, but all groups meet regularly. Some
groups are temporary, while others, such as those for chronic illnesses, are for life. Specialist support is also often necessary. However, the great advantage of self-help groups is that you can talk to people who have experienced something similar or are in the same situation. It can be about concrete everyday tips, but also about a feeling of being supported and understood. Especially when it comes to difficult topics such as the loss of a child, you can often only find deep understanding from people who have experienced this themselves.
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