Fresh Hope for Mental Health Support Groups

Fresh Hope for Mental Health Groups are our ongoing mental health support groups for young adults and adults who have a mental health diagnosis along with those who love them. The groups are faith-based and four on the Fresh Hope tenets. The groups are sponsored either by local churches and ministries or by the Fresh Hope International Office. Facilitators are trained and receive ongoing support from the International Fresh Hope Office.

Fresh Hope Mission

To empower those with mental health challenges and their loved ones to live a full, rich and faith-filled life in spite of having a mental health diagnosis.

Fresh Hope for Mental Health is an international network of Christian mental health support groups. Our groups are non-denominational and approach mental health recovery from a hope and faith-filled perspective. To learn more about Fresh Hope, go to www.freshhope.us

What Happens in a Fresh Hope for Mental Health Group Meeting?

What to Expect

You will be in the company of peers who experience similar experiences with mental health. Fresh Hope is a safe place. What is shared in a Fresh Hope meeting is confidential. You will not be judged, reprimanded, or condemned. You’ll see we’re a group who looks confidently to the Lord.

Who May Participate?

Anyone who now or has had a mental health challenge, including anxiety and panic disorders, bipolar disorder, schizo-affective disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, as well as depression, and other diagnosable conditions, may attend Fresh Hope.

The loved ones, family members and/or friends of those who have a mental health diagnosis may also become part of a Fresh Hope group.

What Happens During a Fresh Hope Meeting?

Meeting length is usually 90 minutes, consisting of Introductions, Large Group Topic Presentation, and Small Group times. Everyone starts together in the Large Group, then breaks into smaller groups, with the people with diagnoses in one part of the room, and the loved ones in the other. The large group meeting usually has a topic (i.e., Identifying Triggers”) Sharing as a large group is often helpful to everyone. Then when the smaller groups meet, they can talk more specifically about a similar problem, and how to prevent it, or at least handle it so there is minimal damage.

Group Time

We begin by introducing ourselves, identifying our diagnosis, and then sharing our ‘Mood’, ‘Hope Tank’, and ‘Clarity of Thinking’ status. (On a scale of 1-5 with 1 being low, how is your mood and your clarity of thinking? How full is your tank of hope? (Empty, half full, full tank) How is your clarity of thinking on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being sharp and clear?) Family and friends introduce themselves as a “loved one”.

“Hi, my name is Chris, I’ve been diagnosed with depression, my mood today is a 3, my hope tank is full, and my clarity of thinking is a 4.”

We then read the Fresh Hope Principles of Recovery (tenets) around the circle, or by reading by diagnosis / loved ones responses. Following this, the topic for the meeting is presented. Topics address the medical, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual areas of recovery.

Closing (5 minutes)

Closing prayer. Following the prayer, we encourage everyone to say together, “Keep coming back. Our God is ABLE!”

Contact Us

2222 Regent Road, Black Creek, BC