Support Groups in Massachusetts
NAMI-C.A.R.E.
Support Group Facilitation Training
Support Groups in Massachusetts
There are a number of support groups throughout the state that can provide understanding, comfort, hope and help for mental health consumers as well as the family members and friends who care for them. Most of the groups listed here are facilitated by trained volunteers. It is always a good idea to call the contact person before attending because meeting dates, times and locations may change.
You are welcome to contact the NAMI-Mass state office (781-938-4048 or namimass@aol.com) for additional listings and information
| Agawam: (for family and friends) |
Meets last Monday of each month, 7-9 pm at Council of Aging, 68 Meadowbrook Manor Contact Lucille Drewnowski 413-786-1236 Own transportation necessary. |
| Agawam (NAMI-C.A.R.E. for consumers) |
Meets last Monday of each month, 7-9 pm at Agawam Senior Center , |
| Bedford: (for family and friends) |
Meets last Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm at 1st Congregational Church of Christ, 25 Great Rd. Contact: NAMI of Central Middlesex Affiliate helpline 781-982-3318
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| Bedford (NAMI-C.A.R.E. for Veterans) | Meets Thursdays from Thursdays from Contacts: or Keven at 978-930-4844 (kmlboston@yahoo.com). |
Belmont: |
On Tuesday evenings from 9/5/2006 through June 5, 2007 in the DeMarneffe Cafeteria Building, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street. A series of speakers will do presentations at 7:00 pm (Room 132), followed by support groups from 8-9:30 pm (Rooms 114 and 132). For more information, contact Denise Egan Stack at 617-855-2252 or visit the website http://www.ocfboston.org |
| Belmont: (MDDA for consumers dealing with depression, bipolar, or schizoaffective disorder) |
13 evening groups meet on Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm
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Meets 3rd Tuesday of the month at |
Beverly : |
Meets 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm |
| Boston (NAMI-C.A.R.E. for consumers) |
Meets first Tuesday of each month from 3:30-5:00pm Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation 940 Commonwealth Ave. West This location is accessible by the MBTA Green B line. Contact Cameron at 617-780-9112 or livenamicare@hotmail.com |
Boston |
Meets first Thursday of each month from 7:00-8:30pm South End Community Center 1601 Washington St . Contact: Carmen at 617-421-0056 or wilo_pr101@yahoo.com |
Boston: |
Meets Tuesdays & Thursdays 7 to 9pm |
Bridgewater: |
Meets third Thursday of month from at Contact: Marilyn at 781-293-9466 |
| Cape Cod: see listings by town |
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| Chatham: (for family and friends of people with mental illnesses) |
Meets first Thursday of Each Month at: First Congregational Church Main Street at the Rotary 7-9 PM Contact: Chris Ebel (508) 945 - 9812 |
| Concord: (for family and friends) |
Meets on the first Thursday of the month from 12:30-2:00pm at West Concord Union Church, 1315 W. Main St. (Route 62), corner of Pine Street, West Concord (enter on Pine Street) Contact: Helpline 781-982-3318 Own transportation necessary. |
| Dennis:
(For People with Psychiatric Disabilities (Peer To Peer)) |
Meets first and third Wednesdays of Each Month at Louis Gordon Office Facility Meeting Room 1100 Route 134 6-7:30 PM Contact: Karen (508) 385 - 5078 |
| South Dennis (NAMI-C.A.R.E. for consumers) |
Meets 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month
from 6:00-7:30pm Contact: Karen at 508-385-5078 |
Easthampton: (for consumers
|
Meets every Thursday, 6-7:00pm at Easthampton Congregational Church, 112 Main St., Corner of Rt.141 and Rt.10 Contact: 1-800-295-2121 amiwma@aol.com Own transportation necessary. |
| Eastern Middlesex |
Evening and daytime meetings Sept through June.
Education meetings Sept, Oct, March through May. Contact Kay Robillard 781-438-1851 for meeting locations, dates and times.
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| Fitchburg: (caring and sharing for family and friends) |
Meets Every Thursday from 7-8:30 pm at Messiah Lutheran Church , 750 Rindge Road, Fitchburg. Contact: Maureen Smith 978 - 772 - 4243 . Own transportation necessary. |
| Fitchburg (NAMI-C.A.R.E. for consumers) |
Meets every Thursday from 7:00-8:30 pm at the Messiah Lutheran Church , 750 Rindge Rd, Fitchburg . Contact: Maureen at 978-772-4243 |
| Framingham: (for family and friends) |
Meets second Thursday of the month at 7:00pm -- 9:00pm at First United Methodist Church, corner of Brook and Water Streets. Contact: Larry and Tina DeAngelo 508-485-5385. Own transportation necessary. |
| Gloucester (for family and friends) and NAMI-C.A.R.E. for consumers |
Meets on the first Wednesday of the month from 7:00-8:30pm at the North Shore Health Project Community Center , |
| Greater Lawrence (for caregivers only) |
Meets every other Friday starting from September 15th from 7 pm until 8:30 pm at the Holy Family Hospital in Methuen Contact info is emma1@comcast.net |
| Greenfield: (for family and friends) |
Meets last Wednesday of month from 6:30-8:30pm at CSO, 215 Shelburne Road Contact: Jane Percival 413-773-5644 jpercival@hotmail.com Own transportation necessary. |
| Haverhill: (for family and friends) | Meets first Thursday each month from 7:00 - 8:30 pm at Haverhill Universalist Unitarian Church, Ashland Street Contact: Hal or Joanna at 978-372-5173 or jo.fortna@verizon.net |
| Haverhill (NAMI-C.A.R.E. for Veterans) | Meets Tuesdays from 7:00-8:00pm Contact: Kevin at 978-930-4844 (kmlboston@yahool.com) |
| Hingham : (for family and friends) |
Meets 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month beginning March 11, 2008 from 7:00-8:30pm at South Shore Baptist Church , Main Street (Route 228) Contacts: Betty at 781-749-1541or Cathy at 781-749-5232 ( macsulli@yahoo.com ) |
| Holyoke: (for consumers and family dealing with OCD) |
Meets first Tuesday of the month from 7-9:00pm at First Baptist Church (basement meeting room), Corner of Route 5 and South St. Contact: Rod Lisee 413-796-7187 Own transportation necessary. |
| Hyannis: (NAMI-C.A.R.E. for consumers) |
Meets every Monday (except holidays) from 6-7:30pm at Cape Cod Human Services, 460 West Main Contact: Virginia Bradley 508-685-2878 Own transportation necessary. |
| Lowell: (caring and sharing for family and friends) |
Meets on the third Wednesday of the month from 7-9:30pm at the Solomon Mental Health Center, Varnum Ave. Contact: Ellie 978-455-4424 Own transportation necessary . |
| Lowell (NAMI-C.A.R.E. for Veterans) | Meets Mondays from 9:30-10:30am Contact: Sonny at 978-738-2722(thiara@comcast.net) |
| Malden: (family members 60 years old and over, dealing with consumer in family, sponsored by Mystic Valley Elder Services) |
Meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 10-11:00am at 300 Commercial Street, Suite 19, Main Conference Room Contacts: 781-324-7705 (Ext. 331-Kathy Learned or Ext. 279-Jennie Reed) Own transportation necessary. |
| Mashpee: (for family and friends of people with mental illnesses) |
Meets on the first Wednesday of Each Month at Christ the King Parish Center Off Route 151 7-9 PM Contact: Charlie or Nancy Bacher (508 778 0650) |
| New Bedford (NAMI-C.A.R.E. for consumers) | Meets 3rd Monday of the month from 3:15-4:15pm |
| Newburyport: (for family and friends) | Meets the third Thursday of the month from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Newburyport Five Savings Bank, 63 State Street, Downstairs Conference Room Contact: Ruth at 978-462-2471 |
| Newton: (for family and friends) |
Meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm At Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Bowles Center Contact: Jean 617-244-9833 or Eileen 781-444-0750 Own transportation necessary. |
| Northeast Essex (for those who have loved ones dealing with mental illness) | Meets the third Thursday of every month from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Newburyport Five Savings Bank, Downstairs Conference Room, 63 State Street, Newburyport Contact: Charlie or Ruth at 978-462-2471 or naminortheastessex@nami.org |
| Norwood: (for family and friends) |
Meets the first Thursday of the month at 7:00pm at Norwood Hospital, basement cafeteria Contact: Ray Bretton 508-668-2941 Own transportation necessary. |
| Orange: |
Meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 6-8:00pm at Quabbin House, 21-25 West Main Street Contact: Anne Riley-Street 978-544-1859 Own transportation necessary. |
| Orleans:
(For People with Psychiatric Disabilities (Peer To Peer)) |
Meets last Saturday of each month at Federated Church Main Street 10 - 11:30 AM Contact: Carolyn (508) 255 - 8521 or Linda (774) 722 - 3323 |
| Orleans: (NAMI-C.A.R.E. for consumers) |
Meets last Saturday each month from 10-11:30am Contact: Linda at 508-240-7163 |
| Plymouth: (for family and friends) |
Meets weekly at night at Jordan Hospital, Sandwich Street Contact: Jean or Arthur Albanese 508-746-8094 Own transportation necessary. |
| Quincy: (for family and friends) |
Meets 2nd Wednesday of the month at 5:30pm at Quincy Mental Health Center, 460 Quincy Ave. Contact: Fanny Zambuto 781-878-4400 or Barbara Sullivan 617-773-7440 Own transportation necessary. |
| Somerville: (caring and sharing for family and friends) |
Meets the third Monday of the month at 7:30pm at Somerville Hospital, 230 Highland Ave., in the 2nd floor conference room (in back of the cafeteria) Contact: Karyn 781-861-8819 Own transportation necessary. |
| Springfield: (for family and friends) |
Meets last Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm at Center for Mental Health Resources, 503 State St. next to Burger King Contact: Myrtle Balogh 413-796-8528 Own transportation necessary. For parents and care givers of children and adolesents with mental illness Second Monday of each month. At Trinity Church on Sumner Avenue in Springfield. Runs from 7-9 . |
| Stow (for family and friends) |
Meets the third Saturday of every month from 10-11:30am at Fellowship Hall First Parish Church near intersection of Rt. 117 and Rt. 62 Contacts: Chuck or Trish Woods 978-897-2962 |
Taunton (Lakeville): (for family and friends)
|
Meets first Wednesday of each month from 10-11:30am |
| Taunton: (for families and friends) |
Meets third Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm at Community Connections, 59 Broadway Contact: Dolores Orcutt 508-947-9403 Own transportation necessary. |
| Uxbridge: (for family and friends) | Meets first Tuesday of the month from 7 - 8:30 pm at the downtown Uxbridge Senior Center Contacts: Constance & James Dwyer 508-875-1544 Own transportation necessary |
| Vineyard Haven (NAMI-C.A.R.E. for consumers) |
Meets every other Thursday from 7:00-8:30pm |
| Wakefield (for family and friends) |
Meets on the second Monday of the month from 7-9:30pm at Horizon House, 78 Water Street Contact: Ann 978-664-4991 Own transportation necessary. |
| Wellfleet: (for family and friends of people with mental illnesses) |
Meets fourth Tuesday of Each Month at Wellfleet Senior Center 715 Old Kings Highway 6-8 PM Contact: LeRoy Spaniol (508) 349 -2475; lspaniol405@comcast.net |
| Westfield (for consumers dealing with depression and bipolar disorder) |
Meets every Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm at 20 Broad St. (Basement) Contact: John Shepard 413-568-5098 johnshep@exit3.com or Forum House 413-562-5293 Own transportation necessary. |
| Worcester: (for family and friends) | Meets on the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m at #2 Biotech Park, 3rd Floor conference room, 373 Plantation Street #2 Contact: 508-795-0500 Own transportation necessary. |
( C onsumers A dvocating R ecovery through E mpowerment)
NAMI-C.A.R.E. is a peer-based, mutual support group program for individuals facing the challenges of recovering from any serious mental illness. It is a support group led by consumers, for consumers, that employs guidelines and principles of support designed to empower its members. NAMI-C.A.R.E. is a group for all consumers with any diagnosis of any kind of mental illness. The support group model focuses on allowing all participants to share their experiences and learn from each other in a safe and confidential environment. There are a number of NAMI-C.A.R.E. support groups available in Massachusetts; please check the listing above.
A NAMI-C.A.R.E. support group training for consumers
is scheduled
for the weekend of March 2-4, 2007
at the NAMI-Mass office in Woburn.
If you are interested in becoming a NAMI-C.A.R.E. faciliatator or updating your skills, please contact Claire Boudreau at 978-772-0402 or cboudreau@verizon.net .
Please provide your name, postal address, email address, telephone number, and explain why you would like to take the training.
SUPPORT GROUP FACILITATION TRAINING (SGFT)
The NAMI-Mass Education Committee offers a support group facilitator training (SGFT) course developed by NAMI-USA under the leadership of Dr. Joyce Burland. Family peer (caretaker) volunteers spend an intense and interesting weekend or a three-day training doing hands-on skill building training. The training promotes the concept of allowing the participants to "do the group's work" and helping each other. Some of the possible problems that support groups might experience and the training addresses are:
• One person monopolizes group time
• Person/group becomes overly directive or critical
• Same person and problem is "re-visited" each month
• Family members in group remain stuck
• One person tries to take over control
• Group members act "clubby" or clique-ish
• Side or multiple conversations occur
• Crises, traumatic events and intense emotions dominate
The training is offered free to NAMI family/friends/caretaker volunteers who agree to facilitate a minimum of 24 support group sessions in their local communities with a trained co-facilitator in the model presented during the training.
The next Support Group Facilitation Training
will be offered on the weekend of April 25-27 , 2008
in Woburn.
If you are interested in becoming a support group facilitator or updating your skills, contact Claire Boudreau at 978-772-0402 or cboudreau@verizon.net .
Please provide your full name, postal address, email address, telephone number, what is your connection with mental illnesses, and explain why you would like to become a facilitator.
(All participants must be pre-approved and interviewed before being accepted.)