The Tucson Center for Counseling and Psychotherapy is offering free support groups on five Saturdays in January and February to help people deal with their feelings after the Jan. 8 mass shooting.
Groups are limited to 10 people per week and will meet from 9:30 to 11 a.m. this Saturday and on Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26 at 2230 E. Speedway, Suite 140.
Call 318-4227 to register.
Grief manifests in many ways, according to the counseling center. Some signs that a person may be experiencing grief and may need to talk about it: trouble focusing and concentrating, interrupted sleep, sadness, crying, inability to stick to a normal schedule or routine, and anger toward family members and friends.
"Support groups will help in the coming weeks as the community heals from the tragic shootings in our community," said the center's co-founder, Michal Gorman. "We want to help individuals understand their feelings and have a place to express themselves."
Several organizations also are offering free telephone hot lines:
β’ Free 24-hour grief counseling provided by Dignity Memorial Network. Call 1-800-854-8080.
β’ Free 24-hour hot line set up by the Arizona Department of Health Services Division of Behavioral Health Services and Magellan Health Services of Arizona. In Pima County, call 284-3517. Outside of Pima County, call 1-800-203-2273.
β’ Victims, witnesses and their families can call the Pima County Attorney's Office Victim Services Division from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at 740-5525. The division also provides group crisis intervention; call the same number for more information.
