Chronic illness/pain: Learn how to accept pain and illness and map out a personalized plan of action for dealing with it at Island Pond Baptist Church, 26 N. Salem Road, Hampstead, N.H., on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. or Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. For more information, call 603-329-5959.
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Getting behind the wheel again: Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital of Salem, N.H., offers a comprehensive driving evaluation after stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation or orthopedic surgery. Also appropriate for someone experiencing age-related decline in driving skills related to Alzheimer's, dementia or the natural aging process, the pre-screening is a 90-minute in-clinic evaluation with an occupational therapist. Vision perception, cognition, neuromuscular status, knowledge of the road and reaction time are assessed. These are done the first and third Thursdays of the month, and the second part, a one-hour on-road driving test with the occupational therapist and a certified driving instructor, are the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. For more information, call Sarah Riley at Northeast Rehab at 603-893-2900, ext. 3212.
Center for Grief and Healing upcoming support groups and workshops:
Surviving a Loss is a one-time workshop offered the first Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Meal and More, a social dinner program for anyone who has lost a loved one, meets the second Monday of every month, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Adults Who Have Lost a Parent on Wednesday evenings for six sessions through July 16 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Loss to Suicide, an eight-session offering, will meet Mondays through July 28 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Loss in the Family, an eight-week offering, will meet Mondays July 7 through Aug. 25 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. or Tuesdays July 8 through Aug. 26 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Young Widowed, an eight-week support group, will meet Thursdays Aug. 7 through Sept. 25 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
All groups are free and meet at the center's offices at 78 Liberty St., Danvers, unless otherwise noted. Space is limited and registration is required in advance. For more information or to sign up, call 978-774-5100, e-mail grief@hns.org or visit www.griefandhealing.org.
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The Newburyport Asperger's syndrome support group meets on the second Monday of each month in the Higgins Conference Room at Anna Jaques Hospital, Newburyport. The group discusses issues faced by parents of school-age children and teens who have Asperger's syndrome, high-functioning autism, and related challenges. For more information, contact Carol Keating at 978-372-2799 or Suzanne Phillips at 978-356-1775.
Eating disorder recovery support group: Cambridge Eating Disorder Center offers a free drop-in group to anyone struggling with an eating disorder, or supporting a loved one with an eating disorder. The group meets the last Saturday of every month from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at 3 Bow St., Cambridge. For more information, call 888-900-CEDC or visit www.eatingdisordercenter.org.
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LaLeche League, a free program that provides mother-to-mother support, education on breast feeding, information and encouragement, meets the second Tuesday of each month at 9:45 a.m. at The Church at Monument Square in Haverhill — Universalist Unitarian Church. Drop-ins welcome; donations appreciated.
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, a free 12-step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, undereating and bulimia, will meet every Monday night at 7 p.m. in the dining room at Cable Gardens, 126 County Road, Ipswich. For more information, call 978-356-1948, 978-356-7021 or visit www.foodaddicts.org.
Allegiance Hospice is sponsoring a free bereavement support group for adults who have experienced the death of a loved one on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Allegiance Hospice offices, 12 Kent Way, Byfield. Anyone interested in registering or obtaining more information, call the Rev. Brenda Champney at 887-255-4623.
Merrimack Valley Hospice bereavement support:
Bereavement support group every second Monday of the month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Merrimack Valley Hospital. Registration is required. For more information or to register, call Lois Marra at 978-552-4537.
Monthly bereavement support group on the second Monday of the month from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Four-week support group on Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one.
Caregiver support group for those caring for a loved one with dementia and/or chronic illness on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Ashland Farm Community Room, 700 Chickering Road, North Andover. This group is also offered every third Tuesday of the month from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Penacook Place in Haverhill.
All groups are free and open to the public. For more information on all of Merrimack Valley Hospice's support groups, call 978-552-4848.
Ongoing grief support
Support for children: The Center for Grief and Healing offers a free bimonthly support group for children, ages 5 through 12, who have lost a loved one. The group will meet every other Wednesday from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. at the Haverhill Public Library. Registration is required. For more information or to register, call 978-774-5100 or visit www.griefandhealing.org.
Loss of a child through stillbirth, abortion or miscarriage support at Caritas Holy Family Hospital, 70 East St., Methuen the first Wednesday of the month, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Cremins Suite. For information, call 978-687-0156, ext. 2240.
Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack St., Bldg. 9, Lawrence; offers bereavement support the first Wednesday of the month, 5 to 6:30 p.m. For information, call 978-552-4539.
Spousal loss support group meets in 12-week sessions at Haverhill Crossings on Tuesdays, 9:30 to 11 a.m., and Wednesdays, 10 to 11:30 a.m. To join a group, contact Nancy Thornton at 978-374-9257.
Widows and widowers education and support program meets Wednesdays at Haverhill Crossings, 254 Amesbury Road, 10 to 11:30 a.m. The program is cosponsored by Farmer & Sons Bethany Bereavement and Resource Center and Sacred Hearts Pastoral Center. All are welcome. For details, call 978-372-1281.
GriefShare, a nondenominational support group, meets Saturdays at West Congregational Church, 767 Broadway, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Individuals are welcome to join at any time. For information, call 603-898-8278 or 978-374-7248.
Allegiance Hospice, 67 Middle St., Lowell, sponsors a free bereavement support group for adults on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, 10:30 a.m. to noon. For information, call 877-255-4623.
Young widow or widower bereavement support through Merrimack Valley Hospice meets Thursdays, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Caritas Holy Family Hospital, Methuen, in the Board Room. The series is free and open to the public. For information, call 978-552-4572.
Billerica Senior Center offers bereavement support the second Tuesday of the month from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Chelmsford Senior Center offers bereavement support the second Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Andover Senior Center offers bereavement support the fourth Thursday of the month from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Lowell Senior Center offers bereavement support the fourth Monday of the month from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Community support
Overeaters Anonymous meets Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at the First Church of Christ, 10 Church St. on Bradford Common. For information, call 978-373-5230.
Bipolar disorder: A new support group is being created in Hampstead, N.H., to address the needs of those affected by bipolar disorder. The group welcomes people from Southern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts who suffer with bipolar disorder or who know someone who does. It aims to provide a safe and confidential environment for people seeking hope, recovery or support for dealing with the disorder. Bipolar disorder is considered one of the most severe and devastating forms of mental illness. It affects about 4 percent of the nation's population. For information, call 603-560-3682.
ADHD help: Peter Williams, a licensed psychologist in Newburyport, facilitates a free support group for adults with ADHD and for parents of children with ADHD on the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. for 90 minutes in the Higgins Conference Room at Anna Jaques Hospital, Newburyport. For information, call 978-465-3366.
Alcoholics Anonymous meets at the Veterans Center, 10 Reed St., Sundays at 10:30 a.m.; Mondays at the First Church of Christ, 10 Church St., Bradford, at 8 p.m.; Tuesdays at St. John the Baptist Church, 110 Lincoln Ave., at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 471 Main St., at 8 p.m.; Fridays, an open 12-step program at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital, 6:45 to 7:45 p.m.; Saturdays at Merrimack Valley Hospital auditorium from 8 to 9 p.m.
Fibromyalgia support group meets every first Wednesday of the month, 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hilton Senior Center, 41 Lafayette Road, Salisbury. For information, call 978-462-5403.
The Upbeat Connection, a support group for people suffering with multiple sclerosis, meets every third Wednesday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon at the Atkinson Community Center, Route 121, Atkinson, N.H. For information, call 603-382-1222.
Teens with Mood Disorders meets on Thursdays at 5 p.m. in the mental health outpatient clinic at the Amesbury Health Center. For details, call 978-834-8200.
ThyCa Merrimack, for survivors of thyroid cancer, meets every second Saturday of the month in the third-floor conference room at the Family Health Center, 34 Haverhill St., Lawrence, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Neurofibromatosis patients and parents of children with the disorder may join a new support group. Affecting 1 in 44,000 babies, the disorder causes tumors to grow on nerves anywhere in the body including the brain and spinal cord causing blindness, deafness, loss of limbs, chronic pain, paralysis, skeletal defects and cardiovascular problems. Half of the patients developing the disorder have no genetic history. For information, call 888-585-5316.
Lyme disease support group meets the second Tuesday of the month at Heritage House, Route 114, 9 Summer St., Danvers, 7 to 9 p.m. For information, call 978-468-6336.
Cancer support
WE CARE cancer support group meets the third Tuesday of every month in the Merrimack Valley Hospital atrium, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The group offers support for cancer patients and their family and friends. For information, call 978-521-8556.
Breast cancer support is offered the last Wednesday of the month at the Amesbury Health Center in the women's conference room at 7 p.m. Free and open to all. For information, call 978-388-9655.
Parent support
PAL, the Professional Parent Advocacy League, facilitates a support group in Haverhill for individuals who are parenting a child with an emotional or behavioral special need. The group meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Haverhill Family Network, 21 Wingate St., 6 to 8 p.m. Child care is not available. To register or for information, call 978-388-7032, ext. 308, or e-mail nacollier@comcast.net. PAL is the Massachusetts state chapter of the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health. Support groups are free of charge and are not classes, but self-help groups.
Parents Helping Parents offers a free, confidential and anonymous support group in Haverhill every Thursday, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Share experiences and receive support and encouragement from other parents. For information, call 800-882-1250 or visit www.parentshelpingparents.org.
Support for Young Parents is offered Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Amesbury Health Center, 24 Morrill Place, Amesbury. The group offers education and support free of charge to young parents with children, infants to age 5. Children are welcome. For information, call 978-372-1285, ext. 6142, or 888-663-3688, ext. 6142.
Grandparents as Parents group meets once per month on a Tuesday at the Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St., 10 to 11:30 a.m. For information, call 978-374-2390.
Parents of children with behavioral and emotional problems, a support group, meets the first and third Tuesday of every month, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Haverhill Family Network at the First Presbyterian Church, 346 Broadway, Haverhill. Just drop in or call. This group offers support to parents of children with emotional, behavioral or mental health special needs. Pizza is provided. For information, call 978-388-7032, ext. 224.
