St. Mary's Hospital - Decatur Patients & Guests Community Connection Support Groups

Support Groups

HSHS St. Mary's Hospital offers a wide variety of support groups. We strive to meet the commmunity's needs and provide emotional support along with the health care that we already provide.

Support groups establish a safe space that allows others to help you work through the stresses of life, whether that may be coping with the loss of a loved one, returing to life after a stroke or even having breathing problems. We are here to help and hope you reach out and join one of our support groups.

If you would like more information on any particular support group, call St. Mary's Community Relations at 217-464-2510.

*All in-person support group meetings are postponed at this time.

Stroke Survivors Support Group

This group is now meeting via Zoom on the first Wednesday of each month from 2 -3 p.m. via Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting

This support group is for stroke surviviors who are still in the workforce, are raising a family or have other typical mid-life obligations and responsibilities. The group will share the challenges and successes of getting back into the daily swing while adjusting to a “new normal.” Many survivors share similar injuries and, through support, will discover inspiration and improved recovery outcomes. The group will also learn about stroke treatments.

Survivors, caregivers, spouses, family and medical professionals are welcome. Though a focused group, all ages and those in all stages of life are welcome to join. For questions or additional information, contact Kathy Hampsey at 217-814-4874 or Kathryn.Hampsey@hshs.org.

Breath of Life Club

While health care professionals can be a wealth of inforamtion regarding your lung disease and breathing problems, fellow patients can also be very helpful. St. Mary's Breath of Life Club is an excellent source of information. Qualified individuals are available at the end of each meeting for questions and instruction. Refreshments are provided.

For more information, call Bonnie Hicks-Cottingham, RRT at 217-464-2604 or by email at Bonnie.Hicks-Cottingham@hshs.org.

Grief Support Group

The pain of losing someone we love comes not from our need to know why it happened but from feeling alone in our pain. Have you lost a loved one and would like to share your story? Come and journey with others on the path toward coping and healing.

For more information, contact Fr. Nick Husain at 217-464-1073 or frnick.husain@hshs.org.

Share Support

Share Support is for those who experience the death of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or in early infancy.

Share also holds the annual Share Walk for Remembrance and Hope, a walk along the lake shore to remember our babies and walk the steps that they will never be able to take and a Holiday Memorial Service in December.

For more information or support, call Karla Thornton at 217-464-2045 or email Karla.Thornton@hshs.org.

Widowed Support Group

The HSHS St. Mary's Widowed Support Group meets for lunch on the fourth Wednesday of each month. All widows and widowers are welcome.

For more information, call James Vogel at 217-429-2089.