Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
BOSTON – This June, during Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter is offering a series of free educational programs throughout the month to raise awareness about the disease and promote brain health. The programs, presented virtually, will focus on facts about the signs and symptoms, the stages of the disease, ways to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, and more.
Monday, June 12, noon, “Intentional Calm,” with Mary-Anne Schelb, Holistic Health Practitioner; Thursday, June 22, 5:30 p.m., “Lifestyle Advice and Reducing your Risk for Alzheimer’s,” with Edmarie Guzman-Velez, PhD; Wednesday, June 28, 6 p.m., “Healthy Living for the Brain & Body; Thursday, June 29 at noon, “Living Well: A Panel of People Living with Dementia.” For more information and to register for these programs, visit alzawareness.org. Free help is available around the clock through the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.
FTD Caregiver’s Support Group virtual meeting
HOLYOKE – The Holyoke FTD Caregiver’s Support Group will be holding its monthly meeting as a virtual Zoom meeting on Wednesday, June 14 from 4 to 5 p.m. It is for caregivers of those afflicted with Frontotemporal Degeneration. FTD is a rare brain disease, and is the most common form of dementia in individuals under age 60 in the U.S. The purpose of the group is to help you to understand and learn about FTD, by sharing stories, ideas, and emotions. The group meets on the second Wednesday of each month. All are welcome. For more information and to sign up for the group, contact Sandy Wallis, AFTD (Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration) Affiliated Support Group Leader at 413-532-0543.
Creative writing and art therapy group
SPRINGFIELD – Art and the written word will be used for healing in the Mending Minds: Creative Writing and Art Therapy Group. Caring Health Center will host weekly, hour long sessions on Monday at 1 p.m. Creative writing prompts and art therapy tools will help communicate thoughts, emotions, and feelings on various topics. To register, please contact the Behavioral Health Department at Caring Health Center at 413-739-1100, ext. 2522.
Longest Day Event
SOUTHWICK – Genesis Healthcare is partnering with Alzheimer’s Association on “The Longest Day,” Wednesday, June 21 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Southwick. All ages are invited to come out, bring any size donation to go toward the Alzheimer’s association, and enjoy Zumba, raffles, children’s activities, food trucks, vendors, and more. Feel free to wear purple. The Zumba class will be 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Rain date is Friday, June 23, same time. The church is located at 568 College Highway.
Youth Grief Support Program
WILBRAHAM – Rick’s Place provides free, peer grief support groups for youth (ages 5-18) and their caregivers. Rick’s Place offers young people and their families a place to remember their loved ones and to avoid the sense of isolation that such losses can produce Rick’s Place was established in 2007, in memory of Rick Thorpe, who died in Tower Two of the World Trade Center on 9/11. This is for young people and their families from all over Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut and offered at no charge. To participate in these free grief support programs provided by Rick’s Place, email info@ricksplacema.org or call 413-279-2010.
NAMI online/phone support group
AGAWAM – The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-WM) of Western Massachusetts would like to inform the public that the NAMI Connection Recovery Support Groups have resumed in a virtual format.
Mondays, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Access online with zoom: https://us02web.zom.us/j/88206475051; access by phone, 646-558-8656, meeting ID: 88206475051.
Wednesdays, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Access online with zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82690755017; access by phone, 646-558-8656, meeting ID 82690755017. For more information, contact the office or go to namiwm.org/support.
For members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Wednesdays, 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. For more information email: triciafitz7@gmail.com.
Shiloh SDA Church and The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-WM) of Western Massachusetts announces a new Family and Friends Support group for black and brown communities. The Black & Brown Family & Friends Support Group meets on the first Thursday of every month. A Zoom link will be provided for participants. For more information, contact the NAMI-WM office at 413-786-9139 or email information@namiwm.org.
A diagnosis is not required to attend any group. Anyone with mental health condition is welcome to attend any group without prior registration.
NAMI – Western Massachusetts Family Support Group
GREENFIELD – The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Western Massachusetts announces that their Family Support Group in Greenfield is resuming in person. The group meets monthly on the last Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Clinical Support Options (CSO), 296 Federal Street, across from Sandri’s Gas Station.
In NAMI Family Support Groups, families join a caring group of individuals helping one another by utilizing their collective lived experiences and learned wisdom. Family members can achieve a renewed sense of hope for their loved one living with mental health challenges. NAMI’s support groups are unique because they follow a structured model, ensuring everyone can be heard and get what they need: free, confidential, and safe; designed for adult loved ones of people with mental health conditions; led by family members of people with mental health conditions; no specific medical therapy or treatment is endorsed. For more information, contact the NAMI-WM office at 413-786-9139 or information@namiwm.org.
MJD Support Group
LUDLOW – The Michael J. Dias Foundation provides education, area resources, peer support, and hope for family members and friends coping with a loved one with a substance use disorder. A support group gathers on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Parish Center, 438 Winsor St. anyone needing support is welcome to attend. Masks are required and guests will be seated six feet apart. If you have any questions, contact Maureen at 413-563-6226.
Grief support group
CHICOPEE – Saint Rose de Lima Grief Support Group meets every Monday except major holidays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. This free weekly grief support group is for people who have experienced the loss of a spouse, partner, family member or friend. All are welcome. The group meets at Saint Rose de Lima Pastoral Center, 15 Chapel St.
Stroke of Inspiration support group
SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield College Occupational Therapy (OT) Department offers a free weekly support group for people living with stroke and their caregivers. The group meets in a virtual format on Zoom every Thursday from 1 to 2:00 p.m. Facilitated by Kathy Post, Professor Emeritus, with the assistance of 1 or 2 OT graduate students, the group provides opportunities to meet other stroke survivors from western Massachusetts, and to share challenges, successes, questions, and resources. For further information and the link to the meetings, please email Kathy at kpost@springfieldcollege.edu.
Narcotics Anonymous
AGAWAM – To find a local Narcotics Anonymous support group, visit NERNA.ORG or WesternMassNA.org or call 866-NA-HELP-U.
Survivors of Suicide Loss
EAST LONGMEADOW – Survivors of Suicide Loss, a support group for adults who have lost a loved one to suicide, meets on the 3rd Monday of each month (except major holidays or severe weather) at the Forastiere Smith Funeral Home, 220 North Main St. from 6:30 to 8 p.m. This is a peer-facilitated group. The meetings are open, meaning new members are always welcome. The meeting room is set up to allow for recommended social distancing and attendees are required to bring and wear their own mask while in the meeting room. If circumstances allow, some meetings may be held outdoors.
Free Accessible Broadcast readings
SPRINGFIELD – Free 24/7 accessible local news and information is available from Valley Eye Radio for those in the Pioneer Valley no longer able to read independently due to visual and other medical and physical challenges. Contact them at www.valleyeyeradio.org or (413) 747-7337 for details on how to listen from one of their special radios or through their website, smart speakers, cable access channel, or mobile phone.
Behavioral Health Network held grand opening for new Ware Resource Center
WARE – Behavioral Health Network, Inc. (BHN) held a grand opening celebration for its new Ware Family Resource Center at 82 Main St. on June 9. The BHN Ware Family Resource center (FRC) was previously located at 78 Main St. and has now moved to a new, larger facility that provides more space for its programs.
The FRC provides free support and access to community resources for families and their children in Western Massachusetts. Center programming is designed to help children develop social and emotional skills, brings people together for mutual support, links families to services and community opportunities, responds to family crises, and values and supports parents and strengthens parenting skills. In addition to assisting families with finding resources, FRCs support families with youth who are at risk of needing court involvement because of their behavior. a main goal of FRCs is to serve as a diversion from the court system.