Mental Wellness group to start Danforth meetings this month

East Toronto residents are being reminded that the Mental Wellness group offers a variety of services and help for those who are in need of support or wish to share their experiences with others.

Along with in-person and virtual peer support meetings, the group also has a number of online services and information available.

The in-person meetings take place in the East Toronto area, and there is also a new group starting at the end of this month with a focus on seniors.

The Danforth group will meet at Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave., from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.

Those wishing more information on the in-person and virtual meetings are asked to go https://www.meetup.com/mental-wellness-peer-to-peer-support-groups/

The meetings are peer-to-peer support based. They give participants an opportunity to learn they are not alone.

The format for all meeting is one hour, and participants are welcome to share (but don’t have to) how their mental wellness is affecting them. They can then get “feedback” from another member (which is empathy or a technique which has worked for that other member)…but nobody at the meeting will tell someone what they “should” do as none are professionals.

The group meetings are popular as participants learn they are not alone and there are others like them, they can unburden themselves to a sympathetic ear that does not have a “lived history” with them, and they can get real-world suggestions on techniques that have worked for others.

Those taking part in Mental Wellness group sessions also can become eligible for free professional therapy with a licenced therapist.

The group uses donations to pay for five sessions of therapy with a licenced therapist for any of the people who attend the peer support groups.

For more information on the Mental Wellness group, please visit https://mentalwellness.help/