Mental Health Support Groups: Pros & Cons

Mental Health Support Groups: Pros & Cons

Posted on February 24, 2022

There are support groups for family members or friends of loved ones living with a mental health condition. The National Alliance on Mental Illness and other regional groups offer support groups for families and friends. “We use a loose definition of ‘family,’” says Teri Brister, chief program officer at NAMI. “If you’re the source of support for an individual with mental illness and want to learn more than about their condition, then there are specific support groups for those individuals as well.” Look for a support group connected to an established organization that provides training to support group leaders. The National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health America both offer trainings for leaders. Your doctor may also have recommendations for support groups connected to a local hospital, clinic or community center. According to Brister, “What works best are when leaders of the support group are trained and follow a structured, traditionally consistent process.”