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As the topic varies greatly across Europe, you will find the information divided by country. You will find the information for your own country translated into your national language. By clicking on the country flag and selecting other country flags, you can also access the information for other European countries in English.
Why are online self-help groups important for people with disabilities? Why are therapies and courses important for informal caregivers?
People with acquired and/or degenerative disabilities often have motor limitations that do not allow them to participate in social life independently. In addition to the mobility problems, they find it difficult to use dedicated transport services due to the scarcity of resources that municipalities and regions can provide in this regard.
For these people, acquired or degenerative disabilities result in depressive experiences. These often stem from the new limitations that require psychological processing to adapt to, and the development of a new way of perceiving oneself.
Social isolation therefore is a serious obstacle in the process of becoming aware of the new condition. In addition to welfare support, the opportunity to share experiences with others with similar challenges can help to promote personal resilience strategies, which are necessary to reclaim control over one’s life. Thus, being bale to join online self-help groups would bring about a significant psychological change.
On the other hand, informal caregivers, often family members or friends who provide support to individuals with disabilities, face their own set of psychological challenges. Many caregivers experience high levels of stress, emotional burnout, and a sense of social isolation due to the demanding nature of their caregiving role. This can negatively affect both their mental and physical health.
Caregiving can be emotionally taxing, and many informal caregivers find themselves neglecting their own health and well-being in the process of providing care to a loved one. Emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and depression are common problems among caregivers. Therefore, it is critical that they too receive adequate support, not only for the person they care for but for themselves as well.
Mental health care, in the form of therapy, support groups, or educational courses, can help caregivers.
Below you will find an overview regarding the online search for psychological support groups.
What online mutual self-help groups exist for people with disabilities in Italy? What courses and therapies are available in Italy to strengthen informal caregivers’ personal resilience and mental health?
Mutual self-help groups (AMA) in Emilia Romagna Region.
Caregivers: psychological counselling through regional health services (ASL) or private therapy options
AMA 2024 Groups Emilia Romagna Region
AMA disability groups
Consult this portal to findAMA groups online or contact the secretariat for information.
A.M.A. Coordination of the Tuscany Region
Tuscany Region Self-Mutual Help Group
Click on this link for information and services of the voluntary association formed by groups and associations promoting self-help in Tuscany.
Services offered by the AMALO
Amalo is a voluntary association that promotes and supports Self-Mutual Aid. It offers a free and easily accessible tool where peers, people sharing similar experiences, can help each other in a welcoming and supportive environment. Members can find resources and solutions to cope with their issues together with a view to improving their well-being.
Click on this link for information and activities promoted by AMALO in the area of self-help.
Counseling and mental health services: Public Services (ASL)
Most Italian regions offer free or low-cost psychological support through the Local Health Authorities (ASL). Caregivers can request counselling services by contacting their local ASL, which may provide individual therapy, group therapy, or counselling sessions. The services often focus on stress management, coping mechanisms, and emotional support, allowing caregivers to navigate the challenges of their role while maintaining their own mental health. More info here.
How can I find an (online) group as a person with disability? How can I find psychological support as a caregiver?
Below, you will find some information on how you can find an (online) self-help group and/or psychological support.
Visit online platforms and resources dedicated to disability self-help groups and caregiver communities in Italy. The following link contains some links to self-help sites in Italy.
Reach out to your regional health service through Local Health Authorities (ASL) to inquire about free or low-cost psychological counselling. Many ASLs offer support specifically for caregivers, including individual therapy or group sessions to help manage stress and emotional strain.
Click here for more information
Once you’ve identified potential groups, ask to join or subscribe to them according to the platform’s guidelines. Many online groups require membership approval or may have specific criteria for participation.
Explore online or local caregiver associations, such as Federazione Alzheimer Italia or Auser, which provide workshops, counselling, and peer support specifically designed for informal caregivers, and join their support groups.
Actively engage with the group by participating in discussions, asking questions, sharing your experiences, and offering support to others. Building connections and relationships within the group can enhance mutual support and a sense of community
Good practices
Resources
Connected topics
Personal resilience – What is that for?
Ambulatory care services. As a carer, you will always have to cope with stressful situations (Self-help groups, Psychological problems). Being resilient does not mean that you should completely distance yourself from everyday stress, burdens, or crises. Being resilient means learning to take care of yourself when you are in these situations, and counteract the stressors with positive, beneficial activities. This can be time-outs for yourself, relaxation courses, strategies to handle conflicts peacefully, information that empower you to cope with the healthcare system, or programmes to recharge your own batteries.
You can also find tips on taking time for yourself on our page on caregiving and family responsibilities (Caregiving and family responsibilities). Our page on communication strategies with people in need of care (Communicate with people in need of care) can help you to sensitively communicate with different groups of people in need of care, and avoid conflicts. Being informed about external help (Ambulatory care services) and income support (Income support) can strengthen your resilience too.
Moreover, you can strengthen your personal resilience through a variety of health prevention courses. There are a lot of relaxation strategies you can practice in courses with other people or just by yourself at home. If that is not enough, a rehabilitation programme might be an option for you. Let’s reduce your stress by working on your resilience!
On this page you can find out more on available health courses, cures and rehabs in Germany. There is also information on empowering you in the medical system by understanding the physical and mental condition of the one you care for more easily.
What courses and therapies are available to increase your personal resilience?
The internet is full of information and offers on how you could strengthen your personal resilience. However, finding a serious and suitable offer is not easy. Although many offers are fee-based, there are often very good alternatives. Here, you can find links to find certified courses arranged by your health insurance as well as tips and suggestions about health and stress prevention for carers in general. Finally, there is information on rehabilitation programmes and treatments, if working on your health at home is not enough.
Health prevention courses (exercise, nutrition and relaxation) subsidised by health insurance
Zentrale Prüfstelle Prävention (Central Prevention Test Centre) has a database on subsidised health insurance courses in the area of health prevention (exercise, nutrition, relaxation). You can find an overview of all courses in a specific location supported by your health insurance.
You can find general information about the Central Prevention Test Centre in the first link. Click on the other links if you are looking for a course sponsored by your personal health insurance:
Pflegen-und-leben.de (Care and live)
We’ve also introduced this non-profit psychological counselling service for caregiving relatives and families in other sections of this website. It offers personalised support from specially trained psychologists for people with statutory health insurance who are caring for loved ones in need.
You can find more information about its counselling service here. You can also find plenty of useful information, tips, and suggestions on how to prevent and behave in stressful situations.
On its “Strategies and Help”, page you’ll find a wealth of information on how to strengthen yourself. For example, it offers a variety of relaxation tutorials that you can find here.
Kur and Rehabilitation (Health care and rehabilitation)
Several caregivers we interviewed shared how beneficial a rehabilitation program or health cure was in helping them recharge. If you’re looking for a break in a professional setting, a rehabilitation programme can strengthen your resilience. A treatment is preventive and is intended to ward off or treat illness through therapeutic measures. These programmes are often covered by health insurance.
Rehabilitation, on the other hand, is intended to restore health, which also means physical health, and is usually covered by pension insurance. You can obtain information about it from your family doctor. Your doctors will also establish whether you are entitled to a treatment or rehabilitation by assessing your health.
General information including the option of a holiday with the person you care for can be found in the homepage of this private company.
Click on the link of the private foundation Müttergenesungswerk (Mothers’ convalescent home) to find out if you qualify for a treatment or rehabilitation programme before asking your doctor.
Good practices
Advice for relatives caring for people with psychological illnesses
Landesverband Nordrhein-Westfalen der Angehörigen psychisch Kranker e.V. (North Rhine-Westphalia State Association of Relatives of the Mentally Ill e.V.) is an association that deals with family self-help for relatives of people with a mental illness. It offers carers valuable tips and suggestions for their everyday life. A collection of links to other organisations that deal with caregiving and psychological illnesses rounds off the homepage. The website is not only available in German, but also in English and French.
Strengthening resilience by empowering patients with More patient safety
The Verband der Ersatzkassen e.V./ vdek (German Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds) and its member health insurances, TKK, BARMER, DAK-Gesundheit, KKH, hkk and HEK, has recently launched the new internet portal Mehr Patientensicherheit (More Patient Safety). Thanks to this platform, patients have the opportunity to report anonymously and in a structured form critical incidents, and positive experiences in the context of medical care. The reports are checked by experts from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Patientensicherheit (German Society for Patient Safety) and used to learn from the experiences of the insured and to improve patient safety.
Strengthening resilience through medical knowledge: “Was hab ich” (What do I have?)
A new free website helps patients to better understand medical findings. Easy-to-understand findings improve the knowledge about the medical background of your loved one’s illness and can make it easier to cope with it. “Was hab ich?” is an independent, non-profit organisation. Medical findings can be posted free of charge and anonymously to be then explained in plain language by medical professionals.
Connected topics
What courses and tools are available to build personal resilience?
In this topic, you can find learning materials and tools tailored for you. Additional training is essential, whether to gain specific knowledge for managing the condition of a young adult with care needs and disabilities or to learn self-care and relaxation techniques. Moreover, having access to tools that facilitate engagement with others in similar situations can be beneficial for sharing experiences. Some training programmes are free, while others may require a fee. You will find this information listed with each service.
All these resources aim to empower you, enhancing your resilience, confidence, and overall well-being, which in turn benefits your care recipient(s).
In the following section, you can explore various Portuguese courses, both free and paid, as well as a platform and app designed to boost your confidence and resilience.
What courses and tools are available to build personal resilience?
You can discover learning materials, including courses on safe practices in medication management, and cognitive strategies for caring for adults with dementia or strokes. There is also a platform and an app, that not only facilitate connections with other caregivers but also provide valuable information and support.
Curso online “Gestão segura do medicamento” – [“Safe Medication Management” online course]
The NAU Platform (Distance Learning and Training) has made a free online course available entitled “Safe and Responsible Use of Medicines”. Adopting responsible and safe practices in medication management has become essential in the daily responsibilities of informal caregivers.
Learn more on the following links:
Estimulação cognitiva e autocuidado no cuidador informal [Cognitive stimulation and self-care in informal caregivers]
Starting from the principle that “to provide good care, one must know how to take care of oneself,” in this paid course, you can learn strategies to become more physically and mentally prepared with PIEC – Individual Cognitive Stimulation Protocol. The author of this protocol is also the trainer for this course, which is aimed at family members and/or informal caregivers of people with dementia or strokes (CVAs), regardless of whether they hold formal caregiver status.
Click on this link for all the details of the course.
Ações de capacitação na associação “Cuidadores” [Training activities in this carers Association]
Training sessions and workshops aim to provide you with practical tools tailored to your individual context. Topics covered include: Informal Caregiver Status, community resources, promotion of mental health for you, self-care and best practices for caring for dependent family members, enhancing practical knowledge and confidence. These initiatives offer group and home-based training sessions for you. Additionally, they offer specialised training for those preparing to become caregivers in the future (pre-caregivers).
Learn more on the training activities from “Cuidadores”.
Careceiver
Careceiver includes a platform and a mobile application designed to encourage, empower, and equip you with resources and communities. It provides information on care, emergencies, informal caregiver status, legal matters, initiatives, events, social initiatives, Network of Local Authorities Caring for Informal Carers (Rede de Autarquias que Cuidam dos Cuidadores Informais (RACCI)), and resources.
Good practices
The burden of caring for someone else affects the immune system, leading to reduced average life expectancy, particularly when it comes to breast cancer prevention. This app provides tools to support female informal caregivers by promoting healthy lifestyles and preventive health habits. It offers articles, videos, a chat and a section to track scheduled medical exams and breast self-exams, with reminders on designated days.
Connected topics
What are the most appropriate courses and therapies for people in need of care and their informal caregivers based on their specific needs and goals?
People with disabilities and their informal caregivers need to build resilience to better handle the physical, emotional, and social challenges that come with disabilities and caregiving responsibilities. Both parties need to work closely with professionals to choose the most appropriate courses and therapies based on their specific needs and goals. In this context, there are several types of interventions:
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation. It focuses on improving mobility, strength, and coordination.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy. A type of psychotherapy helping individuals address emotional and behavioural challenges.
- Music therapy. Addressing physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs using music interventions.
- Art therapy. Providing a creative outlet for individuals to express themselves and process emotions.
- Animal-assisted therapy. It involves interactions with trained animals to promote physical, emotional, and social well-being.
- Life skills training. Teaching essential daily living skills such as cooking, cleaning, and personal hygiene.
- Vocational training. Developing job-specific skills and preparing for employment.
- Social skills groups. Opportunities to practice social interactions and relationship-building.
All the information in this chapter is useful for people with different disabilities and chronic illnesses and their informal caregivers
In the following section, you will find links with information about joining various types of courses and therapies in Lithuania.
What courses and therapies are available to build personal resilience?
In this section, you will find a wide range of psychosocial support initiatives and therapies for people with disabilities and informal caregivers that are available in Lithuania
Kauno klubas “Likimo draugai” teikiamos paslaugos [Courses and therapies provided by Kaunas club "Friends of Destiny"]
People with psychosocial disability are taught self-management, healthy lifestyle skills, household skills, food production, budgeting, knowing and managing their illness in order to restore independence in daily life. Many courses focus on social and work-related skills training.
Click on the links to find more information about courses and therapies: Link 1 | Link 2.
Gyvūnų asistuojama terapija [AAT - Animal-Assisted Therapy]
Meno terapija [Art therapy]
Art therapy helps to express anxiety, fear, confusion, unnamed feelings, reduce stress and encourage better ways of coping with stress.
It helps to survive trauma, relieve physical or mental pain, manage and control the expression of emotions, improve self-awareness and decision-making, enhance memory, attention, develop and improve communication and cooperation skills, build full relationships with other people, activate and/or correct physical and psychosocial development, promote physical rehabilitation, improve social adaptation and integration, develop personal creativity, while also developing general and special artistic abilities and skills. It is useful for people with disabilities and informal caregivers.
If you would like know more about art therapy, visit these links: Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3.
Muzikos terapija [Music therapy]
A strong and useful technique to assist people in finding inner calm and reducing daily stress is music therapy. In addition to assisting with goal-directed behaviour modification and stress relief, music therapy can also foster self-expression, communication, motor skill improvement, and emotional intelligence. It is useful for people with disabilities and informal caregivers.
If you would like to know more about music therapy, visit this links: Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3.
Lengvos mintys [Easy Thought]
Easy Thought is an Emotional Health Centre offering individual psychological counselling and psychotherapy, as well as online psychological counselling.
If you would like to know more, visit this link: Link 1.
Mindfulness kursai ]Mindfulness courses]
The mindfulness course organised by “Galimybių vystymo centras” focuses on stress and emotion management. The course programme is based on the “Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)” methodology of John Kabat-Zinn, MD, PhD, developed 40 years ago in the USA and now widely used worldwide.
If you would like to know more about the mindfulness course, visit this link: Link 1.
“Lobių dirbtuvės” [“Treasure Workshop”]
The aim of the “Treasure Workshop” is to develop independence and work skills. In a community environment, people with intellectual disabilities make a variety of small wooden products, souvenirs and larger wooden products such as tables, shelves, crosses, shutters, weathervanes, fencing, nesting boxes and other treasures.
If you would like to know more, visit this links: Link 1 | Link 2.
Vocational rehabilitation “Valakupių reabilitacijos centras” [Rehabiltiation centre of Valakupiai]
Good practices
A horse helps people with disabilities realise: “I can”.
Therapeutic riding for people with mental disabilities has physical, psychological, social and educational effects. This is not only about riding exercises, but also about interacting with horses and learning how to take care of them properly: brushing, leading, etc.
The aim of these activities is to improve individual mental state as well as self-esteem.
Rehabiltiation centre of Valakupiai
This is a national rehabilitation and training centre, combining multiple rehabilitation (medical and social), courses on social skills and vocational courses.
Mindfulness course organised by “Galimybių vystymo centras” that focuses on stress and emotion management. The course programme is based on the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) methodology of John Kabat-Zinn, MD, PhD, developed 40 years ago in the USA and now widely used worldwide.
The “Treasure Workshop”, set in a community environment, offers activities for people with intellectual disabilities. The team manufactures a wide range of wooden products, souvenirs, and larger wooden products to order.
Resources
Activities offered by Society of Multiple Sclerosis “Feniksai”
Presentation of Society of Multiple Sclerosis “Feniksai” that provides multiply support for its members.
Connected topics
Can I do it all?
At times caring for someone in addition to your work, family and/or personal life feel overwhelming. Your bucket already contains enough water to fill an ocean; yet more water is dripping in every day. Managing everything at the same time is far from easy. Therefore, it’s important to remember struggling and making mistakes is normal. But you don’t have to face it alone. Support is available to help you deal with difficult issues, such as stress, loneliness, loss, or boundaries.
Below you will find a list of courses, exercises and tools that can help you gain insight, balance and resilience in your daily life.
If you are looking for a listening ear from peers, explore our self-help group module. If you are struggling with mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, take a look at our psychological problems module and don’t hesitate to seek professional help.
What courses and therapies are available to build personal resilience?
Balancing your caregiving responsibilities with your own needs can be challenging. The following Dutch services aim to help you in your journey to establish well-balanced circumstances for yourself and your loved ones.
Humanitas
Humanitas offers training to support informal carers and volunteers and the people they care for when facing difficult issues. Training deals with topics such as loneliness, stress, communication, and grief.
Find your support training here.
Mpower
Mpower empowers informal caregivers by offering information, recognition, tests, and exercises. Their learning modules Work, Myself, and Home offer practical tools to help you get a better grip on life situations. You can also take a test to identify the areas you are struggling with most.
Empower yourself here.
Mantelzorg Balans
Mantelzorg Balans is a platform with practical exercises and useful information to help informal carers retain a sense of balance in their lives. They cover topics such as setting boundaries, establishing goals, and balancing activities.
Find your balance here.
Mirro
Mirro offers a self-help module for informal carers to retain their mental health by finding a balance between caring for someone else and caring for themselves. It focuses on care situations, paying attention to your needs, setting boundaries, and dealing with change, and letting go.
Find yourself here.
Good pratices
Schouders is a knowledge centre made by and for parents of disabled children. On their platform they share the knowledge and experience of parents and professionals including available support measures, combining care with work, and finding time for your family and yourself.
Resources
Conversation tool: ” Caregivers Resilience”
A roadmap that gives informal caregivers insights into what they can do to keep resilient.
Waar blijft mijn tijd? (Where does my time go?)
A 15-minute test to determine which tasks take up most time and if there is a good balance.
Mantelzorgtest (Informal care test)
An online test for informal caregivers that provides an overview of their tasks and planning activities. Based on the results you will also receive practical tips and help with caregiving questions.