How to Start a Support Group

Starting a support group can offer people in your community comfort and encouragement during tough times.

Why this recipe matters

Community support groups centered on any of a variety of focus areas—mental health, nutrition, affinity category—have been proven to improve quality of life and whole health (including chronic conditions like diabetes) for participants.

Ingredients

• Mission statement template
• An accessible gathering space 
• Chairs 
• Possible reading materials
• Meeting agenda template
• In-kind donation letter template

Recipe

1. Draft your mission statement.

• If you’re only planning to gather your group once or twice, a mission statement may not be necessary, but if you’re considering a regular meeting over a longer period of time, a mission statement can be critical to the impact of your group.
• In drafting the statement, consider what you hope to offer participants as well as what you’d like to accomplish each meeting.

2. Answer some big questions.

• You’ll want to answer and define the following as best you can prior to inviting others to join:
• Will this be an open group (people can join at any time) or closed (people can only join during certain time periods)?
• Is there a particular topic or issue area you’d like to focus on, or is community-connection the primary goal?
• Are there other existing local, regional, or national groups that you’d like your group to ultimately connect with?
• How frequently would you like your group to meet?
• Will you meet indefinitely, or over a set period of time?

3. Secure a meeting location (and a few additional comforts).

• Reach out to local spaces that may be open to hosting this sort of gathering; houses of worship, community centers, and libraries are a good place to start. Pro tip: look for locations that are already open during the hours you’d like to meet so they don’t have to worry about extra staffing or security. 
• If the location can’t provide chairs, couches, bean bags, or whatever you want to sit on, remember to bring seating (or even encourage attendees to BYO seat).

4. Invite others to join.

• Whether you let people know via social media, email, or the bulletin board at your local coffee shop, you can’t have a community support group without community!
• As you invite others to join, include practical information in your invite, like how often you plan to meet and where, as well your mission statement.
• If you don’t have any prior experience in other support groups, nonviolent communication, or counseling, consider seeking out members who do.

5. Hold your first gathering

• You now have everything you need to hold your first gathering! Don’t forget to encourage attendees to sign-in and leave their preferred method of contact. 
• Once everyone is in the room, take a moment to review all of the things you have already determined: the mission statement, topics for discussion, open vs. closed group, etc. 
• If you plan to have an open group where people can make any meeting their first meeting, consider developing a brief script to be used at the beginning of each gathering.

Nutritional Information

How this recipe has nurtured a community

“I definitely have felt that support groups made a positive impact on my mental health and feeling of connection to my community.”

— Patrick, M., New York

Finishing Touch

Consider reaching out to a local cafe or coffee shop for a small in-kind donation for your gathering. When you’re hoping to break the ice and put attendees at ease—especially in that first meeting—a carton of hot coffee or a mini-doughnut can go a long way!