SELF HELP GROUPS
Self-help groups bring people together who share a common life experience for support, education, and mutual aid.
Benefits of participating in a self-help group include:
• Learning new information and strategies for confronting problems
• Finding support from others
• The opportunity to help others
• Feeling empowered and more self-confident in coping with challenges.
Members of self-help groups share a belief that positive personal change happens through individual efforts with the support of others.
The Society recognizes the valuable role self-help groups play in addressing the informational, emotional, and social support needs of people living with MS. There are over 1400 National MS Society-affiliated groups in existence today.
The Arkansas Office offers Self Help Groups around the state. If you have questions about a group please call the leader or the National MS Society at 1-800-344-4867.
Don't see a group close to you? Call Brooke @ 1-800-344-4867 or brooke.smith@nmss.org to volunteer to be a leader.
All groups are welcome to those newly diagnosed or those who have been living with MS for a while. The National MS Society groups are open to spouses, family and friends and typically meet once a month. All National MS Society groups are comprised of people with MS, led by trained peer facilitators, who meet to:
• Discuss issues
• Share information and feelings
• Provide mutual support
• Socialize
• Listen to educational presentations by professionals
Online Groups
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Mothers with MS
Get support in the comfort of your own home from other Mom’s with MS -
ActiveMSers
designed to help, motivate, and inspire those with multiple sclerosis to stay as active as possible—physically, intellectually, and socially—regardless of physical limitations.
Teleconference Groups
|
Multiple Sclerosis and Cancer |
3 p.m. CST |
1-866-906-9995 |
|
Cafe con Leche: Conversation and Support for People Living with MS |
Monthly telephone group in Spanish. 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. CST |
To register, call |
|
Stay at Home Support for People Living with MS for Five Years or More |
11:00 a.m. CST |
888-279-3775 |
In-Person Groups
|
Group Location and Name |
Meeting Address |
Monthly Meeting Day and Time |
Contact/Facilitator |
|
Hot Spring Self Help Group (Hot Springs) |
National Park Medicl Center Kass Room 1910 Malvern Avenue Hot Springs, AR 71901 |
3rd Thuesday at 7:00 pm |
Charles and Theresa Culpepper 501-624-6033 |
|
Little Rock Fu Lin's Group- MS Self Help Group of Greater Little Rock |
Fu Lin's Restaurant 200 North Bowman Road Little Rock, AR 72211 |
2nd Tuesday at 6:00 pm |
Stuart Mathews
Merten Jabben |
|
Northeast Arkansas Paragould Self Help Group |
Rogers United Methodist Church
Important: There is an |
2nd Thursday at 6:30 pm |
Susie Zamistil
Sandra Novak |
|
PAMS Self Help Group People Against MS (Pine Bluff, AR) |
|
4th Thursday at 6:30 pm |
MyKenya Fletcher 870-592-0055 |
|
Multiple Sclerosis River Valley Self Help Group (Van Buren, AR.) |
Van Buren Public Library 1409 Main St. Van Buren, AR. 72956 |
3rd Tuesday at
Call for June, July & August |
Byna
Doug Twitter: MSsuptgrpArkRV |
| Conway Self Help Group |
Conway Regional Fitness Center 2302 College Avenue Conway, AR 72034 |
1st Tuesday at 6:00 pm |
Julie Shock |
Caregiver Groups
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Empowered Caregiver Network:
http://www.empoweredcaregiver.com/
They have a telephone-based Support Group on the 4th Sunday of each month at 3:00pm CST