Local mutual aid self-help support groups?

Posted by Ed Madara at January 01. 2009

What about a "Local Support Group" Forum?

Is there any place on the CJ website where people can find out if there is a local face-to-face community support group in their area? Or for members to express their interest in finding other members from their area who would be interested in helping one another in getting a specific type of support group off the ground?

I work at a New Jersey Hospital where we help people to start their own mutual aid support groups.

- Ed in NJ

"My years as a medical practitioner, as well as my own first-hand experience, have taught me how important self-help groups are in assisting their members in dealing with problems, stress, hardship and pain... the benefits of mutual aid are experienced by millions of people who turn to others with a similar problem to attempt to deal with their isolation, powerlessness, alienation, and the awful feeling that nobody understands."

- former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, MD

Re: Local mutual aid self-help support groups?

Posted by Beverly at January 03. 2009

Interesting.

When I was first diagnosed with RA a few years back, what I wanted most was to meet another living breathing person with RA; someone who had been through this unchartered territory. I felt alone, and isolated from the rest of the world. I was not able to find a support group. (but later found amazing people to talk to on the Creaky Board

I like Ed's suggestion.

Re: Local mutual aid self-help support groups?

Posted by TessaD at January 03. 2009

Folks,

There is a website that I found called www.meetup.com and I have started a meetup group for Arthritis in the South Jersey area there is already one for Mammouth County. Below is my link:

http://www.meetup.com/The-Cherry-Hill-Arthritis-Meetup-Group/

I have a meetup tentatively scheduled for 1/10/09 at 1PM haven't choosen a location and might move to the 11th.

Tess

Re: Local mutual aid self-help support groups?

Posted by Ed Madara at January 04. 2009

Dear Beverly,

Because I work at a hospital, I hear from people who are just seeking a local "face-to-face" (F2F) support group. It seems that those, like yourself, with RA are especially interested.

Sometimes it can be helpful to meet with others "in the same boat" F2F, in order to share their stories, brainstorm answers to problems, help one another, and pool experiences and info on local services resourcesn - maybe even advocate together for needed local services that don't exist.

Regretfully, the Arthritis Foundation website provides NO information on arithritis support groups. And their local chapters seem to focus just on classes, swim exercise, and walks.

In only a few areas of the country and world, there are some local non-profit "self-help group clearinghouses" that provide free help to those seeking to FIND or START ANY type of local member-run community support group: http://www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/selfhelp.php?id=859

A "local support groups forum" here might help people to network together, and find or form local speciality and general arthritis support in their area.

Take care and hope, - Ed

Re: Local mutual aid self-help support groups?

Posted by Ed Madara at January 04. 2009

Previously TessaD wrote: "There is a website that I found called www.meetup.com "

Thanks for the sharing website, Tess. Thanks a good site to check out for any local group.

It's great that you are starting a South Jersey group through Meetup.com.

To start and list a local group through Meetup.com, do you have to pay Meetup.com any type of fee? - Ed

Re: Local mutual aid self-help support groups?

Posted by TessaD at January 05. 2009

Ed,

The coordinator of the group pays the fee (which in this case was me) 72.00 for 6 months. I have been looking for something in this area for awhile now and haven't found anything. When I heard about meetup.com it was for a book club and found other area's for meetups for Arthritis and there are about 13 to 20 people in the South Jersey/Philly area waiting for someone to start one. So I said what the heck for me it was 72.00 to start one for now, to see if it will kick off.

As a Volunteer in for the Arthritis Foundation down here and them not having any support groups, I figured why not try it. So far there are about 6 folks attending the first session.

I would like to chat with you more about your website also on promoting something in this area if possible.

my direct email address is tdemarc1@verizon.net I have plenty of time on my hands right now since I am out on medical leave with one bum arm so a conversation is easier for me than typing.

Tess

Re: Local mutual aid self-help support groups?

Posted by Creaky Staff at January 13. 2009

Hi Ed, Beverly and Tess,

We received your request and have been hard at work building a solution:

http://creakyjoints.org/supportgroups

You'll find we've added info on how to find or start a local group, a new CreakyJoints Arthritis Support Group Directory, a new Face-to-Face Support Group forum on the Creaky Board, and a new Support Group category in the Events/Calendar section.

If you see ways we can improve the page, please just let us know.

Wishing you good health,

Joey W.

CreakyJoints.org Team