Lived Experience Forum

[amber22]

Hey everyone!

On Thursday 6th of July 2023, we will be holding a Peer Group Chat on the topic of Acts of Kindness

Practicing being kind to others when we aren’t in a good headspace ourselves might not be something you immediately think of doing, but it might help more than you’d think. Let’s come together to talk about how being kind to others might ultimately help us, what this might look like and the impacts of spreading kindness.

The event start times across Australia are below:

Western Australia: 5pm 
Northern Territory & South Australia: 6:30pm 

Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria & Tasmania: 7pm

For anyone unfamiliar with Peer Group Chats, each focuses on a specific topic and is guided by Peer Workers with lived experience of mental health issues and recovery, &/or caring for someone with complex mental health. A counsellor is also present as a moderator to help ensure a safe environment for individuals and the group. It is a space for us as peers to share our stories and experiences, and connect with those who are going through something similar. 

Anyone is welcome to join! Tagging some members who may be interested below: 

@Shaz51 @Snowie @Meggle @Appleblossom @Bobbie @sammy3 @Jacques @creative_writer @Captain24 @Mk333 @Gillie @Gillie1 @tonys @wellwellwellnez @Laura4 @Messylife @Bow @Smiling_Gecko @chibam @ShiningStar @CloudBerry @Shaymanpihama @StuF @Dimity @Kyle1 @Emergence @outlander @Meowmy @Spirit_Healer @Medicated @7cough9 @june23 @Shaz51 

Peer Group Chats are hosted outside of the forums, using a platform called Chatwee. 

To join an Online Peer Group and participate, you will need to register for an account with Chatwee.
To access the group to observe only and not participate, you can access Chatwee as a Guest.
On the night, follow this link to access Chatwee before the group starts.
You can join our Peer Group Chats every Thursday from 7:00-8:30pm (AEDT). Check out the FAQs page for more information.  

We hope to see you there 😊 If you can't make it but are interested, you can always catch up reading the transcript afterwards here. We also invite you to continue the conversation below on this thread if you can't make the night but also wish to contribute some of your responses. We will post some dot point prompts on the day that can get the conversation started if you're unable to make the live event!

[Captain24]

I won’t be able to make it as I should be a work. Sorry @amber22 @TideisTurning 

[TideisTurning]

We’ll miss you @Captain24 , but feel free to join in the post discussion here on Forums afterwards if you’d like- I’ll make sure I tag you 😊

[TideisTurning]

Hi Everyone, 

Just a reminder that the next Online Peer Group Chat on Acts of Kindness will take place tonight from 7-8:30pm AEST.  As always, for ease of reference, times across Australia are in the graphic and listed below: 

Western Australia: 5pm 
Northern Territory & South Australia: 6:30pm 

Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria & Tasmania: 7pm 

Tonight, you can expect discussion about:  

• Challenges to being kind to others and ways to work around or overcome these barriers
• The benefits we might get from being kind to others 
• What acts of kindness might look like 

Tagging members who have supported or otherwise interacted with the thread so far as well as those who may be interested to receive a reminder: @Snowie @Shaz51 @june23 @7cough9 @Medicated @Oaktree @Jacques @Appleblossom @Bobbie @Former-Member @Gillie1 @creative_writer @CloudBerry @Emergence @outlander @Spirit_Healer 

[outlander]

i will try @TideisTurning hopefully i can attend

[Shaz51]

Sorry 😞,  @amber22 , @TideisTurning. I might be able to make it or not xxx

[amber22]

Hey everyone, 

Just a reminder that this Peer Group Chat on the topic of Acts of Kindness will be starting very soon, in around 20 minutes at 7PM AEST! Tagging those who have interacted with the thread and who may be online and/or interested to receive a reminder 😊

@Snowie @Shaz51 @outlander @june23 @7cough9 @Medicated @Oaktree @Jacques @Appleblossom @Former-Member @Bobbie @creative_writer @CloudBerry @Emergence @wellwellwellnez @Gillie @Gillie1 

[TideisTurning]

Hey Everyone,

Our discussion last week focused on spreading kindness and the impacts on and benefits for, us as the givers of kindness (a bit more on that here). So, one thing I'm really curious to hear about from whoever would like to share is; how have you felt when you've extended kindness to someone else? What was the impact on you as the giver of kindness?

I’ve also come across this video, which made me wonder about what kindness to others might look like. It does not necessarily have to be as grand as in this video! In fact, I feel like it rarely is, and often, small acts are felt hugely!

I do like the concept behind the video though. So, this one is part question part challenge (if you're up for it); how could you put a spring in someone else’s step? What will you do to spread kindness in the next week or so? 

In considering this, you might also like to reflect on acts of kindness you've received that have made a big difference to you- is it something you could pay forward to someone else?

For example, I've had people let me go in front of them in line at the grocery store when I haven't had a lot, a favour I've then been able to return to others who've had less to buy than me. 

Feel free to come back and share if there's nothing that immediately comes to mind- it could happen spontaneously rather than being planned beforehand 😊. I'd love to hear about how kindness is spread! @Captain24 @Snowie @Shaz51 @outlander @june23 @Former-Member @tonys @Oaktree