Top

Starting a Self-Help Group

Starting a Self-Help Group

Mental Health Empowerment Project staff are available to assist people in starting and maintaining self-help groups around a variety of interests as identified by an individual or group of individuals.   We will work with you to develop a plan for your group; assist you to identify community resources that will support your group: find meeting space, potential members, advertising, and partnership opportunities.

Staff will offer assistance in researching information relevant to the group topic, work with individuals to create materials to “kick start” a first meeting, and identify the existing strengths and skills that the individuals bring to the group.  We offer individualized training on a wide variety of topics for new group facilitators including (but not limited to): basic communication skills, role of a facilitator; developing shared leadership and ownership; publicizing a group and its’ activities; strategies for helping people manage difficult emotions; and identifying relevant referral resources.

MHEP staff is available for ongoing consultation as your group is established and faces the challenges of growth and development.  We periodically offer group facilitation training designed to further your skills and provide the opportunity to network with other facilitators to share strategies and successes.

Please call us at 518-434-1393 with your group ideas!