Support groups being offered

St. Johns County Mental Health and the St. Johns County Public Library System reported to Historic City News that they are teaming up to offer free support groups to assist residents of St. Johns County in dealing with the economic downturn.

The support groups will provide a forum for community members affected by the economy to share concerns and support one another, under the supervision of a licensed mental health counselor.

The support groups were created when library staff members began noticing an increase in the number of patrons who expressed frustrations and anxiety due to the poor economy. Recognizing that these patrons needed an outlet for their concerns, the library staff contacted St. Johns County Mental Health, who quickly responded by organizing and facilitating several support groups.

The support groups will begin in late April and will meet every other week at various library branches. Each group will be facilitated by a Licensed Mental Health Counselor employed by St. Johns County. All support groups are free of charge and open to St. Johns County residents. The location, time and dates for each of the support groups are as follows:

· Bartram Trail Branch Library (904-827-6960) in Fruit Cove: Mondays at 3:00 pm on April 20, May 4, and May 18.
· Main Library (904-827-6940) in St. Augustine: Wednesdays at 3:00 pm on April 22, May 6, and May 20.
· Southeast Branch Library (904-827-6900) at Dupont Center: Mondays at 3:00 pm on April 27, May 11, and May 26.
· Hastings Branch Library (904-827-6970) in Hastings: Wednesdays at 4:00 pm on April 29, May 13, and May 27.

St Johns County Mental Health provides a variety of services open to all residents of St Johns County. Services offered include prevention and assistance in linking to resources through the Community Resource Department, as well as treatment for both substance abuse and mental health issues. Specific services include individual and group counseling, case management and psychiatric medication management.

For more information on Mental Health services or the upcoming support groups, call (904) 209-6001