|
If
you or someone you know has a mental illness and you don't know where
to turn, please call us at (614) 221-1441. |
Support Groups
The MHAFC sponsors three different kinds of support groups in Franklin County. They are:
For information
on other types of support groups in the community, search our on-line
Directory of Mental Health and Recovery Services.
Families
In Touch: A support group for families and friends of persons with mental
illness
Families In Touch has been helping families and friends of
adults with mental illness since 1978. In a group setting, participants
are encouraged to talk openly with each other in a caring and sharing
atmosphere about how they are coping with the illness and treatment of
their relatives and friends.
Guest speakers address medications, social security benefits, vocational issues and other related topics. Videos from the MHAFC's library are also used to help families and friends gain a better understanding of mental illness and how it affects their daily lives.
The groups are facilitated by mental health professionals who are experienced in dealing with the specific concerns of family members. Meetings are held at various locations throughout Franklin County.
In addition to
coordinating meeting places, the MHAFC serves as a resource to families
and friends and provides current information about different mental illnesses
and treatments that are available in the community. Participants receive
a newsletter containing the latest information on mental health legislation,
medications, treatment issues and other topics of interest to family members
and friends.
Supporting
Each Other
Families In Touch participants include friends, parents, spouses,
adult children or adult siblings of adults who have been diagnosed with
a mental illness. These illnesses can include major depression, bipolar
disorder (manic-depression), schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder,
etc. Sharing a common problem allows friends and families to support each
other and offer encouragement to one another during difficult periods.
Helping Ourselves
There are many benefits to becoming involved in Families In Touch. Participants
can:
- Speak openly about mental illness with others who have been affected.
- Listen to what steps have worked for others.
- Learn more about mental health services in the community.
- Improve communication skills and become more effective with mental health professionals.
- Become effective advocates for improved mental health care.
Sharing Helps
Whether you have lived for many years with the problems associated with
a friend or loved one's mental illness, or are just beginning to learn
how to cope, Families In Touch is here to help.
Meeting Times
and Locations
Westerville (NE) Meetings held at Concord Counseling Service, 774 Park Meadow Rd.; 2nd and 4th Thursdays; 10 am to 12
Noon. For information, call Linda Jakes, 882-9338 x 210.
Next meeting dates: March 8 & 22; Apr.12 & 26.
Worthington Meetings,
co-sponsored by North Community Counseling Centers; held at Worthington
United Methodist Church, 600 N. High St., Room 300; 2nd and 4th Mondays;
5:30-7:00 p.m. For information, call Barb Chuki, 846-2588 ext. 2224.
Next meeting dates: March 12 & 26; Apr. 9 & 23.
West Side Meetings,
co-sponsored by Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare Community Support Network,
held at the Hilltop Library, 511 Hague Ave.; meets once a month. This group will have a new facilitator in January, 2007. Call Karen Berry at MHAFC for further information.
Next meeting dates: March 5 from 1:30-3 pm; Apr. 2 from 1:30 - 3.
North Side, co-sponsored by North Central Mental Health Services, for family members and friends of young adults with mentaal illness, held at Fmily Focus, 40 spruce St. The group will meet on the second and fourth Tuesday, 6-7:30 pm/ For further information call Don Schmidt, 299-6600, Ext. 3614.
Next meeting dates: March 13 & 27, Apr. 10 & 24.
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Depression Support Group
This peer-led, self-help group provides valuable support and education. Approximately three to ten people, from new people to long-term members, meet in an accepting and supportive environment. The group follows a format that allows everyone to have a chance to speak, if they would like to. Literature on depression is available at each meeting.
The group meets at Overbrook Presbyterian Church, 4131 N. High Street; the1st and 3rd Mondays of each month, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Call Karen Berry at MHAFC at (614) 221-1441 for more information on this group.
Next meeting dates: January only, group will meet on the 2nd & 4th Mondays, March 5 & 19; Apr. 2 & 16..
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Schizophrenics
Anonymous
This confidential,
self-help support group is led by a person with schizophrenia. A mental
health professional attends the meetings and serves as advisor and facilitator.
The groups provide positive, mutual support and fellowship to persons
with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or a related disorder. The purpose of
the group is to help restore dignity and purpose to individuals who are
working for recovery from this devastating mental illness.
Schizophrenics Anonymous (SA), a program begun in the fall of 1991, is cosponsored by the Mental Health Association of Franklin County, North Community Counseling Centers Worthington Site, and Columbus Area, Inc.
Each group averages approximately 6 to 10 members at each weekly meeting. Only persons with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder are invited to participate in these groups.
SA meets at the following locations:
The North group meets at the Worthington Methodist Church, 600 N. High St., Room 317; every Monday from 5:30-7:00 p.m. For information call Mary Beth Sparks at North Community Counseling Centers--The Bridge, 846-2588, Ext. 2229.
The East group meets at Pathway Clubhouse, 1203 E. Broad St.; every Wednesday from 2:30 -3:30 p.m. For information call Mike Stalego, 251-7820.
The Central group meets at Southeast, Inc., 16 W. Long St., Second Floor; every Friday from 1-2 pm. For information call Bonnie Baker, 225-0990 ext.1158.
The Northeast group meets at Concord Counseling, 774 Park Meadow Road, and is held every Wednesday from 5-6pm. For further information, call Sarah Filanowski, (614) 882-9338, Ext. 233.
Call the Mental
Health Association at (614) 221-1441 for more information on these groups.
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FAMILIES IN TOUCH: support groups for families and friends of persons with mental illness. (more info)
- Westerville (NE)
Next meeting dates: Mar. 8 & 22; Apr.12 & 26. - Worthington Meetings
Next meeting dates: Mar. 12 & 26; Apr. 9 & 23. - West Side Meetings
Next meeting date: Mar. 5; Apr. 2. - VA Families In Touch
Next meeting dates: No meetings are being scheduled at this time.
DEPRESSION
SUPPORT GROUP (more info)
the first and third Monday
of each month, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Next meeting dates:January only, group will meet on the 2nd & 4th Mondays, Mar. 5 & 19; Apr. 2 & 16.
SCHIZOPHRENICS
ANONYMOUS (more info)
North,
Mondays (weekly); 5:30 to 7 pm. For further information, call Mary Beth Sparks at North Community
Counseling Centers--The Bridge, 846-2588, Ext. 2229.
East, Wednesdays (weekly); 2:30 to 3:30 pm. For further information, call Mike Stalego, 251-7820.
Central, Fridays (weekly); 1-2 pm. For further information call Bonnie Baker, 225-0990, ext. 1158.
Northeast, Wednesdays (weekly); 3:30-4:30 pm. For further information call Sarah Filanowski, (614) 882-9338, Ext. 233.
PLEASE NOTE: Meeting schedules are subject to change. Please call individual groups to confirm.
