Support is an integral part of living well with thyroid disease. Here are some helpful tips on how to start a support group.
Difficulty: N/A
Time Required: 5
Here's How:
- Think of a name for the group, for example, Thyroid Disorders or Thyroid Interest Group or Thyroid Educational Group.
- Find a place to hold the meetings. Some libraries and hospitals have meetings rooms that are free for non-profit groups.
- Advertise the group in local newspapers. Most newspapers offer free listings in their health section datebook or calendar for support groups.
- Make up flyers to post in pharmacies or lab offices or waiting rooms.
- Post information about your support group here at the About.com Thyroid site's Top Doctors and Support Groups area, in the Sticking Out Our Necks Thyroid News Report, and other sites.
- Send information on your group to the health editors and reporters for local newspapers.
- Get listed under 'Support Groups' in local hospitals' health calendars.
- Use word of mouth to publicize your group.
- Get local endocrinologists and other health professionals to speak at meetings. They may speak for free if you ask them.
- Call pharmaceutical companies to request free flyers on thyroid disorders and their thyroid medications.
- Get a web site. There are free sites that nonprofit group can get.
- Many hospitals maintain a public help or 'ask-a-nurse' line to refer callers to community resources. Call and ask to be listed as a support group in their database.
Tips:
- Call the Thyroid Society and Thyroid Foundation to get on their lists of support groups.
