TO READ: Groups Offer Comfort and Even Joy in the Mental Health Community
I have a lot of mentally ill friends. Maybe you do too. Twenty-one years ago, when I was diagnosed with major depression (which later became categorized as bipolar disorder) I personally knew only one person who I even suspected of having a mental illness. Now people with depression, bipolar disorder and other conditions are everywhere in my life!

I find that as we go through this life-altering experience, we tend to bond to one another for information and support. You may have noticed it in your life too. When you suddenly get a diagnosis, or a prescription, everything changes, and you need someone to turn to -- someone who's been there. That's why I believe the services provided by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Depression and the Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) (see links at right) are so vitally important. And I know that sense of connection and shared experiences is one of the reasons people seek out my writing class for people with mood disorders at Stanford.

Being immersed in the mental health culture may involve reading about depression or other conditions, recognizing that you have mentally ill friends or relatives, seeking education and camaraderie in support groups or therapy groups and, in a surprisingly high number of cases, holding paid or volunteer positions in mental health advocacy. (In addition to my writing group, I speak as a volunteer on mental health issues for two organizations.) And there is a great deal of comfort, release and joy in these communities.

This weekend I took part in the NAMIWalks for the Mind of America in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The positive vibes and goodwill were everywhere -- from the fact that there were 90-odd teams participating, to the cheers and thanks of volunteers as we finished our 5k walk, to the open-minded chats going on at the booths offering information, books, and items made by people with mental illness. I felt proud to be a part of helping make these illnesses more visible in our still-stigmatizing society.

If you're coping with depression and you're not familiar with NAMI and DBSA, do yourself a big favor and check them out for education on illnesses and treatments, emotional support for consumers and their families, resource lists, legislative and research updates, and especially to learn where there are support groups near you. You don't need to feel alone as you grapple with difficult thoughts and feelings.

TO READ: Peer Support Study Results Extremely Positive
I just read the results of several research studies that asked: What benefits do peer support programs offer to mental health consumers? The answers, on the website of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (www.dbsalliance.org), were astounding.

In these programs, consumers act as trained service providers to others with mental health issues to: help them develop self-management skills, aid in restoring social roles such as work, and encourage them to find - and commit to - more effective care for their illness. Organizations including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org) offer such peer-to-peer training programs.

In Canada, research on a program known as the Consumer/Survivor Initiatives found very positive results in terms of mental health symptoms, recovery support, and reduced use of hospital and emergency services. The CSI report found:

-- The average number of hospital days for participants dropped from 48 to 4.
-- More than $12 million was saved in reduced hospital stays for three hospitals over one year.
-- Self-described "lonely" consumers who were partnered with a peer mentor used on average $20,300 less per person in hospital and emergency services in the one year post discharge.

I've known many people who've benefited from peer services, as well as informal friendships and support groups, but I still found the degree of these improvements amazing. It seems obvious that training peers to provide such support - which I believe benefits them as well - should be a priority in all mental health care systems.