Once a month the Footscray Library open’s its doors to an anxiety support group.
Facilitator Timothy (Tim) Hillier said the group is designed to be a safe, confidential and welcoming space for those experiencing anxiety.
“We are a group that really wants people to share their experiences in a friendly, non judgmental and confidential space,” he said.
“We want people to come in and share as much or as little as they want to and to feel understood by the facilitators.”
Having lived experience with anxiety and OCD himself, Tim and the other facilitators make them the ideal mentors for the first group of its kind in the west.
“We operate through Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria (ARCVIC) which operates in the east. I grew up in the west and wanted to bring it out here,” he said.
Having experience working with charities in the mental health space, Timothy set up the support group to bring people together to discuss challenges, self-help ideas and coping strategies.
“We try to get people to open up about how they are feeling, we let people chat back and forth so it is quite unstructured,” he said.
“We also like to give people quiet time which gives them the opportunity to unwind, something they might not be able to do during their day.”
Beginning in February of 2022, the group usually sees small numbers and hopes to increase these in the new year.
“For those who might not feel comfortable in person there are also online sessions,” he said.
“It is all free , we just want to be there if anyone needs any support.”
Registrations are open through the ARCVIC website.
Details: arcvic.org.au/events/categories/support-group-face-to-face/footscray-anxiety-support-group/
Jennifer Pittorino
