Get Involved With Mental Health Support Groups
So far in the “Top 5 Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate” series here at Mental Health Notes, I’ve given you reasons to stop promoting stigma and a list of large mental health advocacy and research organizations with which you can get involved.
Today, let’s talk about the importance of smaller mental health support groups, how you can get involved with one, and how you can even start one if there are none in your area.
Number Three: Become a mental health advocate when you get involved with mental health support groups, or start a mental health support group.
Seek out mental health support groups in your area. You may find that your community mental health center or one of the larger mental health advocacy organizations already have support groups to join. You can also check out your state’s Department of Health and Human Resources (this organization may also be called Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Division, or Division of Public Health), or join online mental health support groups.
If your area doesn’t have a mental health support group, there are several ways you can start one. Start by contacting your local community mental health center, your Department of Health and Human Resources (or similar name), or one of the larger mental health advocacy groups. You may find that one of the larger groups would love to help you start an affiliate group in your area. (That’s how I started my area’s NAMI affiliate support group.)
Whether it’s you or someone you love who has a mental illness, mental health support groups are great ways to learn more about mental health, find resources, and talk to others who know what you’re going through.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s information about educating yourself and others about mental health, but in the meantime, share your thoughts here about mental health support groups.
- Do you belong to a mental health support group? How has it worked for you, or helped you better understand mental health?
- Have you been successful at starting a mental health support group in your area?
POSTED IN: Mental Health Notes
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