By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Support and education for individuals of various identities and backgrounds who are affected by mental illness are the cornerstone of the Wood County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
The Bowling Green-based agency provides programs and support groups for adults living with mental illness and peers and family members. A year ago, a group of individuals had the idea to start a support group for LBGTQ+ individuals but didn’t know where to start.
“It was like the community had been asking for it for a long time, so I asked the question,” said Crista Metzger-Leady. “The answer was simple: there was nobody to run it from a peer standpoint.”
NAMI staff and Metzger-Leady connected with BGO Pride to kick off the support group.
“When you have a water issue, you call the plumber. When you want to do LGBTQ+ things, you call BGO Pride,” she said. “They show up.”
“At NAMI, we always want to build welcoming and inclusive places for people, especially for individuals within the LGBTQ+ community that may have higher rates of suicide, depression and substance abuse,” said Amanda Like, peer programming coordinator at NAMI Wood County.
According to NAMI National, individuals who experience discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and race or ethnicity are at a higher risk for attempting suicide. Those who reported experiencing all three had the highest rates of attempting suicide.
Providing affirming spaces, respecting individuals’ pronouns and affirming homes, schools and online communities are protective factors, Like said.
“LGBTQ+ people aren’t at greatest risk for suicide due to something inherent about being LBGTQ, but rather due to experiences of rejection, discrimination and victimization based on their identity,” she said.
That is where the local support group comes in.
As soon as the idea was launched last June, the word got out quickly through news articles and social media.
“There was a bit of negative feedback, but for every one of those, there were two positive feedbacks,” Metzger-Leady said. “People told us, ‘This is exactly what we needed.’”
While there were positive comments about the group starting, the organizers didn’t know if anyone would show up to the meetings, said Beca Rios, BGO Pride vice president and one of the original organizers.
“What if everyone’s too nervous to come or if they just can’t make it?” Rios said.
Since that first meeting last June, the numbers have been steadily growing, Like said.
On the last Wednesday of every month from 6 to 7:30, the LGBTQ+ Support Group meets in person at the NAMI Wood County office, 1250 Ridgewood Drive, Bowling Green.
The group has had a dozen or more people at times, with a lot of people returning for the support and community it provides.
“We are building a small family of people who know when it’s your birthday and what your dog was wearing when you took them out last week,” Metzger-Leady said. “We do a lot of laughing in the group.”
“I always say that NAMI is my family and the people in support group, they’re like my family members. So it’s very close knit,” Like said.
“It’s been so affirming that the work we are doing by having this group was needed,” Metzger-Leady said.
“We want people to have all the resources and information that they need.,” Rios said. “Starting with NAMI, they’re getting the free support group, and they’re getting community, plus resources and services that NAMI provides.”
NAMI’s team can help them connect with different therapists and navigate systems that are not easily navigated.
The meetings usually start with introductions, a review of the group’s guidelines and principles of support, followed by updates from people about what’s going on and group discussion.
“We might talk about what a person is struggling with and get group wisdom,” Like said.
“The facilitators let the participants lead the group where it wants to go. We don’t come in with any specific topic or idea, we just go where the group takes us.”
“We have such a great group. Everyone has so much wisdom to share,” Rios said. “It’s nice to see the group interact.”
“I feel like our group takes such good care of each other,” Metzger-Leady said. “There is just such a sense of relatability.”
The goal is to continue to grow the group,
“It’s a personal challenge to see every seat full,” Metzger-Leady said.
“I want to see new faces,” Rios said.” I would love for this group to grow to the capacity that we need a second group.” They may try to offer a hybrid meeting for people who live a distance from BG or who would prefer to participate virtually.
They also eventually would like to create a space for LGBTQ+ youth. “That is something that is really needed,” she said.
“Peer support is so important,” Like said. “Understanding mental illnesses are no one’s fault, and providing sincere and critical acceptance, and knowing they are not alone can mean a lot to a lot of people.”
NAMI will have a table at the BGO Pride event on Saturday. They will have cookies and T-shirts available.
“If you’re not part of the LGBTQ group, but you’re interested in support groups, NAMI has other support groups,” Rios said. Individuals can visit the table, go to the NAMI website or call the office (419-352-0626) to learn more about the LGBTQ+ Support Group or any of the other support groups or educational programs they offer.
