Post by Mel on Mar 15, 2006 11:31:43 GMT -5
Every Friday, Laurel Thompson meets with a group of 15 people at a local mental health center in Midland, Texas. "I know I can go and face my fears there. In this group, people know me and understand what I am coping with," says Thompson.
Laurel is a member of a support group for people with schizophrenia. "It's an answered prayer," she says. "This group has given me more confidence and a new set of friends."
It was last November that Laurel first learned of support groups for people with schizophrenia at a local NAMI meeting. Laurel then contacted Schizophrenics Anonymous (SA), an organization that develops self-help groups for people with schizophrenia, to find out if there was a group in her area. As it turned out, there was no group in or near Midland, so the coordinator at SA encouraged Laurel to start one herself. She was also sent a group leader's manual and a video on how to start a group.
With direction from SA, Laurel began contacting local mental health centers and psychiatric hospitals to find participants. Laurel sent letters to organizations and met with caseworkers and other mental health professionals. Eventually, she found another person with schizophrenia who wanted to be in a support group, and a center offered to be a local sponsor, providing meeting space on their premises. Soon afterwards, word got out in the mental health community that a support group had formed and 13 more people with schizophrenia joined.
Schizophrenics Anonymous, which has about 72 groups around the country, and several overseas, started in Michigan in the mid-80s to help people with the disease cope with the difficulties imposed by their illness. "We believe people with the diagnosis of schizophrenia benefit from the feeling of mutual support that comes from talking to other people with the disease," said Eric Hufnagel, executive director of SA. "Most people, even if they have another form of severe mental illness, can't relate to the symptoms of schizophrenia."
Each SA meeting is organized around a set of six steps that can enhance recovery. Members talk through the steps and share new information they have learned about the disease and its treatment. Issues such as discrimination, recovery problems, and dealing with family members are also addressed during each meeting.
According to Hufnagel, most people know there are benefits to participating in a support group but they don't know how to do it. He recommends that anyone who wants to participate, or start a group, contact SA. Staff members and SA volunteers will help you locate one near you or will show you how to get a group started. SA also publishes a monthly newsletter and provides information to help keep groups going. People who participate in groups do not have to pay dues to be members. For more information, call Schizophrenics Anonymous at (248) 557-6777 or 1-800-482-9534.
Laurel is a member of a support group for people with schizophrenia. "It's an answered prayer," she says. "This group has given me more confidence and a new set of friends."
It was last November that Laurel first learned of support groups for people with schizophrenia at a local NAMI meeting. Laurel then contacted Schizophrenics Anonymous (SA), an organization that develops self-help groups for people with schizophrenia, to find out if there was a group in her area. As it turned out, there was no group in or near Midland, so the coordinator at SA encouraged Laurel to start one herself. She was also sent a group leader's manual and a video on how to start a group.
With direction from SA, Laurel began contacting local mental health centers and psychiatric hospitals to find participants. Laurel sent letters to organizations and met with caseworkers and other mental health professionals. Eventually, she found another person with schizophrenia who wanted to be in a support group, and a center offered to be a local sponsor, providing meeting space on their premises. Soon afterwards, word got out in the mental health community that a support group had formed and 13 more people with schizophrenia joined.
Schizophrenics Anonymous, which has about 72 groups around the country, and several overseas, started in Michigan in the mid-80s to help people with the disease cope with the difficulties imposed by their illness. "We believe people with the diagnosis of schizophrenia benefit from the feeling of mutual support that comes from talking to other people with the disease," said Eric Hufnagel, executive director of SA. "Most people, even if they have another form of severe mental illness, can't relate to the symptoms of schizophrenia."
Each SA meeting is organized around a set of six steps that can enhance recovery. Members talk through the steps and share new information they have learned about the disease and its treatment. Issues such as discrimination, recovery problems, and dealing with family members are also addressed during each meeting.
According to Hufnagel, most people know there are benefits to participating in a support group but they don't know how to do it. He recommends that anyone who wants to participate, or start a group, contact SA. Staff members and SA volunteers will help you locate one near you or will show you how to get a group started. SA also publishes a monthly newsletter and provides information to help keep groups going. People who participate in groups do not have to pay dues to be members. For more information, call Schizophrenics Anonymous at (248) 557-6777 or 1-800-482-9534.