How to Plan a Support Group

Support or "self help" groups are formed by people who share problems, challenges or concerns. They can be started by participants or sponsored by health care organizations, social service agencies or nonprofit organizations. A support group may work towards mutual problem solving, dealing with grief or other personal trials, and sharing information.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Web connection or telephone
• Paper
• Printer
• Transportation

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Instructions

Launching a Group

• 1

  Conduct research. Find out whether there is an existing local or national group that focuses on the issues or challenges that concern you--before you start a new group. The American & N.J. Self-Help Clearinghouses maintains a database of more than 1,000 support groups. They suggest that you contact such groups to find out whether they have a how-to kit or other resources to assist you.

• 2

  Take the recommended steps to start your group. The Suicide and Mental Health Association International suggests following these steps to start a support group:

  -Decide what the focus or purpose of the group will be. Your group could focus on providing emotional or other types of support to participants, educate participants or the public, or achieve a specific goal.

  -Identify a main point of contact that participants and outsiders can call or e-mail for information, meeting schedules and updates.

  -Invite group members who share experiences and priorities.

  -Consult subject matter experts who can provide consultations, meeting space, facilitate meetings and give presentations.

  -Set a time and date for the first meeting and create an agenda.

• 3

  Determine the structure for your group meetings. Decide how often the group should meet, what the format of the meetings should be and how meetings should be conducted. For example, consider whether there should be guest- or attendee-delivered presentations at each meeting or whether the format should be open discussion. If you will have open discussion, decide whether it will be moderated by one person or whether it should be spontaneous.

  Other options you can consider include whether to establish ground rules for the discussions such as or whether "cross-talk" is permitted (participants have the freedom to add to an observation or opinion someone else has expressed) or whether each person must start a "new thread" (new conversation topic).

• 4

  Publicize your group. The Family Caregiver Alliance has some ideas to help you get some publicity for your group:

  -Post flyers or other notices on community bulletin boards at supermarkets, any appropriate retail outlets, church news bulletins, libraries and local branches of national organizations that focus on challenges that match or are similar to those of your group.

  -Write and send press releases to local newspapers.

  -Write and submit brief (two to three sentences long) public service announcements to local television and radio stations. The announcements should explain the purpose of the group and provide contact information.

  -Inform social workers at hospitals, clinics and other social service organizations about the purpose of the group and include contact information.

• 5

  Consider starting a support group online. People who have difficulty traveling to meetings or individuals who desire the privacy that online meetings provide may prefer to participate in virtual meetings. On the mental help.net site, writer Ed Madara describes ways to start free online e-mail message groups, free online chat groups, and free Web sites on which people can post messages, contribute to blogs or start message boards. These message groups can be started through search engines, like Yahoo, or by specific groups that maintain sites (and request donations to help maintain them). Message groups are an excellent real-time way to discuss issues, exchange information and seek advice from the comfort of one's own home or laptop.

• 6

  Decide whether the group will need to pay expenses and, if so, how the funds will be handled. Potential expenses could include rent for meeting space, refreshments, or educational materials. If you decide to collect dues, determine whether you will request a set amount or ask for voluntary donations. You may want to consider planning fund-raising events to meet expenses.