1. Outreach and Support in Second Life Ricky Davis/Ricken Flow MetaBody Community Health Center [email_address] Twitter @rickenflow
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Editor's Notes
Do your research to see if there are already support groups in-world. It is better to join a support group already in progress. The collaboration is a big part of support groups in real life and that carries over into Second Life. When I started my HIV/AIDS support group there was already a group that existed but they did not meet as a support group. Just something as simple as putting your illness or disability in your profile is a form of support. I have in my profile that I am hiv + and the questions that people asked of me in IM is what prompted me to start my outreach and support group.
Virtual Worlds are still fairly new and some people come in to get away from the realities of their lives. They will come when they need some advice but might not stick around that long or just come back when they need some support and that is fine. Do not be discouraged if at some meetings no one shows up. Over the year and half of my support group I have had large participation and then some day’s only one person show up. It is the occasion of actually helping someone that will get you through the times when you think no one is participating.
Have fun, be creative do other activities besides just sitting around chatting, go to a musical performance, plan a field trip, watch a movie as a group. The camaraderie that can be achieved by doing other things will ensure that people stay interested in the group.
Remember to emphasis that it is peer to peer support (unless you are a professional) Ensure that the participants know of any confidentially concerns that if you are using text that LL records text…. Using voice is a work around it also brings a bit more personal aspects to the support
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