Whether you’re seeking support for addiction, depression, anger management, anxiety, grief, eating disorders, or other mental health issues, support groups can be a valuable tool for managing your symptoms and making community connections. Community support groups for mental health are not the same as group therapy and are not a substitute for professional treatment. However, they can complement professional treatment by providing motivation, encouragement, emotional support, and a safe space to talk openly.
Rose Hill Center provides comprehensive adult mental health treatment on our beautiful 400-acre campus in Holly, Michigan. With 30 years of experience, we are proud to be recognized as one of the nation’s top long-term residential mental health facilities. At Rose Hill Center, we know the value of being part of a supportive community for lasting recovery and encourage involvement in community support groups. Contact us at 866.367.0220 to learn more.
What Are Community Support Groups for Mental Health?
Community support groups for mental health bring together people with similar diagnoses and experiences. While support groups can be integral to recovery, they are not intended to provide treatment. A mental health professional leads some community support groups, but most are peer-led.
The focus of community support groups is to provide a safe and supportive space where group members can:
- Share personal stories and experiences
- Offer advice
- Discuss coping strategies
- Provide comfort and encouragement
- Practice social and communication skills
- Build peer relationships
- Celebrate each other’s successes
While the support of family and friends is essential to recovery, they may not be able to fully understand the unique challenges faced by those with mental health disorders. Support groups fill a specific need by offering access to peers who can better empathize for having shared experiences.
How to Find a Community Support Group for Mental Health
People who need them can access information about community support groups quite easily. If you are unsure where to start, your primary care doctor or mental health professional (therapist, case manager, psychiatrist, counselor) will have a list of available resources in your community.
The internet is also valuable for finding a community support group in your area. You can, for example, search “bipolar support group near me” and scroll through your options. Additionally, numerous community support groups now meet online, allowing you to participate in groups that might not meet in your area and removing transportation as a barrier to seeking support.
The websites of national organizations such as Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) are excellent resources.
At Rose Hill Center, we provide information about community support groups for mental health as part of our community support services program and aftercare planning.
What Are the Benefits of Community Support Groups for Mental Health?
Community support groups offer a safe place where you can openly talk about your thoughts, emotions, and experiences with others who can relate because they have similar feelings, worries, and daily struggles. These support groups are judgment-free and provide critical emotional and social support. Additional benefits of community support groups for mental health can include:
- Feeling less lonely, isolated, or judged
- Gaining a sense of empowerment
- Staying motivated to heal and grow
- Symptom reduction
- Obtaining information about good mental health
- Talking openly and honestly
- Giving and receiving support
- Learning about other resources for support
- Improving healthy coping skills
Another significant benefit of community support groups is that most are free, so cost is not a barrier to seeking support. In addition to support groups for individuals with mental health disorders, numerous groups offer support for friends and family of individuals with mental illness.
Learn More About Community Support Groups for Mental Health at Rose Hill Center
Residential treatment has proven to be highly effective in treating severe mental health disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and co-occurring disorders. At Rose Hill Center, we recognize that mental health recovery is a life-long journey, and support needs to extend beyond residential care. We offer aftercare planning and community support services. Contact us at 866.367.0220 to learn more about finding community support groups for mental health.
