Support is an integral part of living well with thyroid disease. Here are some helpful tips on how to start a support group.

Difficulty Level: Easy      Time Required: 5 minutes

1. Think of a name for the group, for example, Thyroid Disorders or Thyroid Interest Group or Thyroid Educational Group.
2. Find a place to hold the meetings. Some libraries and hospitals have meetings rooms that are free for non-profit groups.
3. Advertise the group in local newspapers. Most newspapers offer free listings in their health section datebook or calendar for support groups.
4. Make up flyers to post in pharmacies or lab offices or waiting rooms.
5. 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.
6. Send information on your group to the health editors and reporters for local newspapers.
7. Get listed under "Support Groups" in local hospitals' health calendars.
8. Use word of mouth to publicize your group.
9. Get local endocrinologists and other health professionals to speak at meetings. They may speak for free if you ask them.
10. Call pharmaceutical companies to request free flyers on thyroid disorders and their thyroid medications.
11. Get a web site. There are free sites that nonprofit group can get.
12. 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.
    

1. Call the Thyroid Society and Thyroid Foundation to get on their lists of support groups.
   
   

Related Features:

• Thyroid Top Doctors Forum
• Sticking Out Our Necks News Report
• Thyroid Society
• Thyroid Foundation
• Living Well With Thyroid Disease