M i s s i o n P e a k U n i t a r i a n U n i v e r s a l i s t C o n g r e g a t i o n
"A Spiritual Community of Caring Hearts and Open Minds"
Operating a Peer-Run Depression Support Group in a Congregation
These are materials that can be used to start and run a peer-support depression support group in a congregational setting. They have been successfully used by Rev. Barbara Meyers to set up groups in two different congregations. The original format was developed by Rev. Maureen Killoran in Ashland, N.C.
Characteristics of the support group
This is a peer-support group. Leadership is not by a mental health professional.
The group is for the depressed person, and not their family member or loved one. There are other models for congregational mental health support groups which include both family and mental health clients.
For an example, see Caring Ministries - HELP Mental Health accessable from The Mental Health Support Ministry of the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church.
The group meets 2 times a month.
The group is closed after the first meeting, and the members covenant to meet for a 3-month period. After the 3-month period, the group will open up for people to leave and for new members to join. It will then re-form for another 3-monrh period.
The leadership of the group can be either clergy or lay members. In either case the leaders should also be people living with depression. If laity are to run the group, it is desirable that the leadership is shared by 2 or three people.
For lay leaders, there is oversight by supervising clergy.
Where the meetings are held is an important consideration.
The meetings should be held in a place where privacy is ensured. Either a private home, or an out-of-the way meeting room in the church can work well.
Each person to join the group must talk with the designated contact person before coming to a meeting. That is, people cannot simply show up and attend without understanding what the group is and how it is run.
Collecting the names of interested people and mailing them information about the group. These names come from people directly by:
phone in response to the newsletter article
to a designated mailing address
referrals from a friend or minister
Speaking to each interested person to make sure it is appropriate for them.
Ask them why they are interested in the group. The person should identify themselves as living with depression. They don't have to have a diagnosis, but they do need to consider themselves depressed.
Make sure that everyone gets a chance to speak uninterrupted
If there are interruptions, gently remind people of the agenda. A few words of appropriate comment is OK, but any more should be discouraged. Say something like: "We're listening to Mary."
Don't let the conversation drift off to something not having anything to do with the meeting. This can happen easily. A gentle reminder usually works.
If someone has shared something particularly painful, try and see that the group responds to it during the cross-talk.
Say the benediction, holding hands.
Follow up on people who don't come to the meetings when expected. Make sure they aren't isolating themselves, or in serious trouble with their depression.
If there are problematic situations, discuss with the appropriate minister
Oversight
Oversight by a minister should be done if the group is led by the laity. Oversight consists of:
Periodic (possibly monthly, or every two months) having a meeting to see how things are going and if there are any problems
If there are problems, help the leaders to resolve them, possibly bringing them to attention of the pastoral care team if appropriate.
Group Continuity
Make sure that the depression support group has leaders. When leaders feel it is time to move on, they should help to recruit their replacement. The leaders should preferably be former group members who know how it operates.
