The Vermont chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is pleased to announce two new mental health recovery support groups that will be offered in Brattleboro beginning January 7th. The Brattleboro Retreat and Turning Point of Windham County have partnered with NAMI Vermont to offer one of the groups on a psychiatric unit at the Brattleboro Retreat and another as part of a program offering at Turning Point.
The meetings, known as NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group meetings, are free 90-minute recovery support groups for people living with mental illness. Participants learn from one another’s experiences, share coping strategies and offer mutual respect, encouragement, understanding, and hope. The groups provide an ongoing opportunity to discuss the challenges of living with mental illness and the techniques for maintaining wellness. All groups are facilitated by trained peers who are living in recovery.
“Our facilitators are truly making a difference in Vermont through their dedication and commitment by leading through example and giving people courage and hope for their future,” said Laurie Emerson, program director of NAMI Vermont. “The support groups offer individuals the help they need to maintain and improve their wellness and recovery. The Brattleboro Retreat support group helps bridge the gap to recovery by providing individuals in severe crisis with the opportunity to talk to someone who understands. By attending a support group on the inpatient psychiatric unit, our hope is that individuals will feel comfortable to seek out a community support group once they are discharged.”
“We’re excited about our new partnership with NAMI because it focuses on helping patients feel comfortable sharing and talking to peers, which is a huge part of the recovery process,” said Gwynn Yandow, director of Social Work Services at the Brattleboro Retreat. “They’ll be exposed to individuals who have had similar experiences and who are now doing well. That’s a big motivator for patients to begin attending support groups in the community when they leave the hospital.”
The Connection Support Group at the Turning Point begins on January 7th from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Meetings are scheduled every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. The meeting is open to any individual who has a mental illness including: bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, anxiety and dual diagnosis (combination of mental illness and substance abuse).
“Our participant surveys tell us that more than three-quarters of our guests are people who identify as having a dual diagnosis, a mental illness and addiction issues,” said Suzie Walker, executive director of Turning Point of Windham County. “We’re always glad to provide access to support services to help people achieve stability and wellness in their lives, and especially develop a community of support.”
NAMI Vermont’s programs are made possible in part by a grant from the Vermont Department of Mental Health. For more information, contact NAMI Vermont at 1-800-639-6480 or [email protected] or to find a complete list of all of our offerings, visit us on the web at www.namivt.org.
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NAMI Vermont is the independent Vermont chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a statewide non-profit, grassroots, volunteer organization comprised of family members, friends, and individuals affected by mental illness. Our mission is to provide education, support and advocacy to individuals and family members living with serious mental illness.
