The sessions were separated into groups with some commonality (managers had a separate group, staff in common roles/teams were pulled together) and were run by a moderator. For the staff groups, the moderator was a staff member from the Mental Health Promotion team and managers were not present. It offered staff the opportunity to have discussions without feeling the discussions would result in any reprisal. The discussions were kept respectful and work appropriate (not meant to be gripe sessions) but the groups also were able to share their experiences/concerns in a different capacity than in the team meeting environment. Subject matter varied based on suggestions from the group and were focused more on personal experiences in the work setting than solving work-related problems. Meetings were held weekly and for 1/2 hour. Most groups continued to meet for a few months or until the group decided that the need was no longer there. It was a great way to stay connected with other staff, share common experiences, and feel validated.
