Peer Support is a vital part of rebuilding your life after spinal cord injury. A spinal cord injury impacts every aspect of life for both you and your family and friends. It’s not unusual to feel overwhelmed, lost, lonely or depressed when faced with adjusting to a new “normal” and no one understands that like someone who has already lived through it.
Whether you choose to participate in group peer support or prefer a one-on-one session, we’re here to help you and your family. Our trained peer mentors are available to listen without judgement, answer your questions and help problem solve so that you can get back to living your best life.
Peer Support Groups in NYC
In partnership with The Mount Sinai Hospital Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, our peer mentors share their lived experiences, SCI life hacks and local resources to help guide the newly injured and their families along the road to recovery. Due to COVID restrictions, these groups currently meet virtually.
See The Mount Sinai Hospital list of Community Reintegration Programs for more details:
SCI Family and Friends Support Group
United Spinal Peer Support Network
Peer Support Groups are available through the United Spinal Chapters across the country and many of them are open to virtual participants so you can connect with the support you need on a day and time that works for you.
Specialized Support Groups
Rochester Chapter Survivors of Gun Violence Group
Paralysis caused by gun violence can be one of the most traumatic spinal cord injuries. The Rochester Spinal Association offers a support group for GSW survivors that meets seven days / week from 4-8pm Eastern time. The group has participants from Rochester, Syracuse, Yonkers, and Staten Island, NY as well as Houston, TX, Portland, OR, Atlanta, GA, and Marrero, LA and it is growing every week. This is a safe and judgement free space. Attend as often or as little as you want and you don’t have to stay for the whole four hours!
Greater Boston Chapter Virtual Support Groups
Our friends in Boston have an extensive roster of support groups that address just about every aspect of SCI life for survivors, their partners and significant others, and kids. They even have a group for Spanish speakers only.
Want to talk about intimacy, sex, and relationships after a spinal cord injury? The Boston chapter has you covered.