SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Empire Mental Health Support is hosting peer-led support groups for those struggling with mental illness.

Phyllis Arends and Jerry Zeigler joined Dakota News now to tell us more about the groups.

“We have three peer-support groups, and basically what we do is we talk with each other about what we go through on a daily basis, how to have a decent life, and talk about the struggles they go through from week to week. What we do is just kind of lead the group so that we can help them at a peer-to-peer level so that they can try to get some advice on how to live life every day,” said Zeigler.

“It’s kind of like finding a friend who has been through the same thing you’ve been through.

“People who walk the walk are the ones who can help each other out. It’s important to be able to sit in a room with people you know understand and who aren’t going to go out into the community and blab about you when you leave. But, mostly that peer support,” said Arends.

“We have one on Monday afternoon at First Presbyterian Church, and Wednesday evening at Active Generations East. You do not need to be a member of Active Generations to attend. We have one Thursday evening at First Christian Reformed Church on 26th Street, and on Friday at our office.”

You can find a full list of support groups at empirementalhealth.org.

Watch the full interview to learn more.

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