These support groups are valuable resources for living a life with depression. My experience with those groups that I’ve worked with has been wonderful.
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Veterans of the U.S. Armed Services can get help for suspected mental illness from the local Veterans Administration (VA) facility. The VA has professional staff for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other forms of mental illness.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) trains people, many of whom have mental illness themselves, to work with those struggling with mental illness. NAMI can direct individuals to groups that treat mental illness. Visit NAMI website at www.nami.org.
Local Psychotherapists and Psychiatrists can suggest support groups for mental illness.
Local hospitals have mental health facilities that often support the mentally-ill in group settings.
Local media companies facilitate health and wellness fairs.
Radio, TV and print media support mental health awareness and help.
Yahoo Support Groups on depression provide a laundry list of online support groups. There are many resources available here.
Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA) is a peer support group applying the Twelve Steps patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
“Emotions Anonymous” (EA) is a twelve-step organization, similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. Fellowship is composed of people who come together in weekly meetings for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. This program has been known to work miracles in the lives of many who suffer from problems as diverse as depression, anger, broken or strained relationships, grief, anxiety, low self-esteem, panic, abnormal fears, resentment, jealousy, guilt, despair, fatigue, tension, boredom, loneliness, withdrawal, obsessive and negative thinking, worry, compulsive behavior and a variety of other emotional issues.
About.com provides access to information on all forms of mental illness.
Dial “211” in Connecticut for a wide array of health services.
HealingWell.com has sections on diseases and conditions, forums and chats, blogs and videos.
“Pysch Central” provides online support for depression that allows you to read other people’s experience with depression and also provide your own (if you’d like). Membership is free and the community is overseen by a team of dedicated individuals that help keep the forum safe for all.
“Beating the Beast” is a thriving online support community for people with depression and related issues. The forums are run by people with depression as well.
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