SUPPORT GROUPS
by Dawn Debbe


For many, the green screen creates a world: new perceptions, perspectives, and concepts roll across the screen as fast-- sometimes faster--than we can absorb their content. The screen also reflects our everyday *personal* realities and concerns: the five pounds we never seem to lose; the cigarettes we struggle to snuff out--permanently; the sorrows and frustrations, as well as the pleasures of personal relationships.

"SUPPORT GROUPS", a conference structure available on PARTICIPATE (R) on the Source, is designed to provide an atmosphere of support for people having difficulties in various areas of their personal lives. Discussion about issues and concerns is encouraged in a less personal manner than sometimes occurs when people meet their fears and questions face-to-face, and some of the conferences in the structure are private in order to provide a more secure atmosphere to discuss painful and personal issues.

"SUPPORT GROUPS" has grown quite a bit since its inception. Current offerings include "WEIGHT WATCH" (a particular favorite during the holiday season), "SPLITTING UP" (dealing with divorce), and "STOP SMOKING". "WOMEN ONLY" and "MEN ONLY" are private conferences where each sex can meet with his or her "own kind" to discuss sex, love, marriage, and other intimate issues that affect and shape the lives of both men and women. An unsegregated public conference called "MEETING PEOPLE" discusses all aspects of meeting people, dating, and relationships in general. "SEXUALITY" has just opened as a private conference for both men and women.

As the organizer for the overall structure of "SUPPORT GROUPS", I've tried to branch out a little. I started a conference called "PERSONAL GROWTH" to discuss concepts not commonly accepted, and explore new ideas together with the other members. It's not always a fast-paced conference, but what we get there is quality work. We also have a new conference called "BROWN THUMB". This is meant to be a tongue-in-cheek look at life's little mishaps. The notes aren't exactly rolling into the conference right now, but I have high hopes for it, too!

Whether the pace in each individual conference is fast or slow isn't nearly as important as whether the conference *works*. For many, the conferences do! Right now "SUPPORT GROUPS" frequently accounts for 35% of the activity on Participate on the Source, and that says that "SUPPORT GROUPS" is providing something a lot of people find useful and valuable.

For example, a private topic called "LIVING FOR YOU" has become an intense support group for women who find themselves in damaging relationships. The group supports, as well as tries to change habits and lifestyles. The "PARENTING" conference is a place where people can talk about their problems with being a parent. One of our participants, Bond, is just newly a parent and says he finds the information and sharing there very useful.

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At first I tried to moderate all the topics myself. As the "SUPPORT GROUPS" structure grew, I found that conferences were going untended. So I began asking other people to help with moderating the conferences. Right now I've got a fantastic bunch of people helping me out. I'm always looking for people who want to help--people who have new ideas for the "SUPPORT GROUPS" structure, too.

Finally, I'm always looking for ways to let more people discover "SUPPORT GROUPS" in the first place! Here, my main challenge is advertising. I want to be certain I'm reaching everyone who may be interested. I want to interest people who really don't care one way or the other, too! I advertise approximately once a week in POST and hope word of mouth does the rest. Chimo's "SUPPORT GROUPS" Editor helps out quite a bit and always has something interesting to say about the structure, in the online newspaper published weekly on Participate on the Source.

I have big plans for "SUPPORT GROUPS", feel strongly about the structure, and hope to watch it continue to grow. I hope to have other systems ask me if I'd like to manage similar structures on their systems. I have three conferences in the works right now. Soon after the turn of the New Year we'll be unveiling "MARRIAGE". The other two conferences are still in the planning stages, but you can count on them being implemented early in 1986. Hope you'll join us in "SUPPORT GROUPS" in '86, too!

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Author's note: Dawn Debbe is PSI, Manager Customer Services, Participate
on the Source "SUPPORT GROUPS" Coordinator.