Self-Help Groups supports and encourages women affected by common issues and similar backgrounds to meet and address issues in a safe and supportive environment. The concept of Self-Help Groups means that the group determines its needs and is directed by a member of the group who may organise the monthly meetings and request guest speakers. Women’s Health in the South East supports the group by working closely with this volunteer.

Self-Help groups are made of people who are directly and personally affected by a particular issue, condition or concern. These common concerns or life conditions cause some form of disadvantage or discrimination. These people with a common interest join together in groups to support each other and to lobby, advocate and educate on their own behalf. (COSHG 1998)

The self-help concept provides women’s health with an excellent platform for women’s voices to be heard and to address a number of health needs in a supportive and safe environment.

Since its beginnings, Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) adopted the self-help concept model and supported, initiated and included Self–Help Groups for women as part of its core business. WHISE strongly believes in providing local women with appropriate opportunities for access and participation, in line with the fundamental principle that the health and wellbeing of women is directly related to the social context in which women live their lives.

OBJECTIVES:

Objectives of WHISE are:

• To provide up-to-date, accessible information and resources to the community on a wide range of women’s health issues and services
• To provide education and training for health professionals, community organisations and individuals on women's health
• To acknowledge the special needs of and develop support services for women who are disadvantaged in our community
• To identify gaps in the provision of women's services and develop strategies to improve these services to women
  

The objectives of the women’s self-help groups are to:

• Create a safe and confidential environment for women to discuss and share their experiences
• Encourage women to receive and give support
• Encourage women to be respectful of differences in each other
• Reduce isolation
• Create capacity for women to broaden their knowledge about community activities and services in the area
• Create an environment that facilitates social cohesion.