Are you looking for a support group to join or to suggest to a family member or friend? Here are some places in Harlem where you can begin looking for help:

Your local hospital or clinic:

The hospital or clinic where you receive treatment may have a support group you can join. Scan the hospital or clinic message boards or ask a nurse, doctor or social worker if they know of a group that might suit your needs. Harlem hospitals have a variety of support groups and workshops.

Here is a sampling of what is available:
• Harlem Hospital: diabetes, HIV, asthma...
• Mount Sinai: asthma, hepatitis, colorectal disease, weight loss surgery...
• North General: Healthy Eating, Active Lifestyles (HEAL) Workshops
• New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University: cancer, caregiver support, depression, stroke, weight loss...

An organization:

Organizations that deal with a particular health problem or issue may have support groups of their own or they can refer you to other local support groups.

Here are a few examples:
• Harlem Alliance for the Mentally Ill (HAMI)
Support group for friends and family of the mentally ill
212-865-2770
• St. Mary's Center
Adult Health Care Program for people living with HIV/AIDS
212-665-5992
• Violence Intervention Program Inc.
Education and support services to combat violence against women
800-664-5880

For more information, see the Around Harlem section.

Your church or spiritual center:

A place of worship can be an important source of comfort to you. Some organizations hold meetings for their congregation that operate like support groups.

Online:

You can look for support groups online by searching for the problem or issue you are interested in and seeing if there are places in your area or an online group you would like to join.

Here are two to try:
• HarlemUnited: www.harlemunited.org/healthcare/supportgroups.html (AIDS/HIV)
• Yahoo!Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/
• GetHealthyHarlem.org: Our website has a section where you can start your own support group. Click here to find out more.

Did You Know? is a series of health articles written by HHPC and reviewed by our Health Advisory Board.