Your Ultimate Health Calendar: Track Wellness, Stay Fit, and Achieve Your Goals

The Central PA Ostomy Society provides valuable support. If you need help, call Leslie Wilson at 814-695-2407 and leave a message. You can also visit the United Ostomy Association of America, Ostomy101, or MeetAnOstoMate.org for more resources. Excitingly, the Central PA group is planning four in-person meetings for 2026.

If you’re a family member or friend affected by addiction, the Hope Support Group offers a safe space to share experiences. Meetings are every Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Blair Drug and Alcohol Partnerships, 3001 Fairway Drive, Suite D, Altoona. You can also join via Zoom—details are at www.blairdap.org/family. For questions, call 814-381-0921.

For those grieving from a loss due to suicide, the Suicide Bereavement Support Group meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 6 to 7 p.m. at UPMC Western Behavioral Health of the Alleghenies, 500 E. Chestnut Ave., Altoona. For more information, contact Bill Yon at 814-940-7476. If you need immediate help, you can reach the Altoona Crisis Center at 814-889-2141 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Currently, the Altoona Area Lyme Disease Support Group has paused its meetings. For updates, you can call Amber Altiero at 814-934-7403.

The UPMC Altoona Faith-Based Grief Support Group meets from 7 to 8 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month in the hospital’s chapel. You can contact Chaplain Paul Carter for more details at 814-889-2132.

Family Services Inc. offers a free educational support group called Women Aware. This group is for women who have experienced abuse in their relationships. Meetings are weekly, and new members can join at any time. For more details, call 814-944-3585.

For updates on health-related events, you can email community@altoonamirror.com.

It’s important to remember that support groups like these bring people together who are facing similar challenges. A report by the National Alliance on Mental Illness states that engaging in a support group can significantly improve emotional well-being. These communities provide not just resources, but also a sense of belonging and understanding.

For further reading on mental health resources, check out this NAMI resource.

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