Start a New Meeting

Anyone who wishes to stop self-mutilating and who wishes to start a meeting in their area is encouraged to do so. We have found that meeting face-to-face with other self mutilators has been most helpful. It may take a bit of research and patience to get your meeting up and going, just because usually people are not vocal about this problem, but we encourage you to make the effort to do so, to get help and meet with others!

A physical room in which to meet is the first thing a new meeting needs. Public meeting places such as houses of worship, libraries, schools and hospitals usually have rooms to rent for these purposes for reduced fees. For example, the meetings in NYC are held in the basements of two different churches. One of the principals of 12 step groups is that we are not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; meeting in a specific place does not imply an ideological affiliation. Many of these institutions may already rent rooms to other 12-step fellowship groups.

Finding people to attend a meeting is the second concern. The following is a list of ways we have found each other:

  1. Announce your SMA meeting at other 12-step fellowships groups that you may be a member of. Many of us are cross-addicted and are members of other 12 step organizations in addition to SMA. In fact, SMA’s two founders met in another 12-step fellowship.
  2. If you are not a member of another 12-step fellowship, call Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or Alanon in your community. Meeting places for these fellowships may be a good place to post flyers about your new SMA group.
  3. Other fellowships may agree to announce the formation of your new group at their meetings. We have found that people are receptive and willing to help. 
  4. Advertise in local newspapers. Local papers often have sections where “community news” or “service groups” are mentioned free of charge.
  5. Contact professionals in your area who have clients who self mutilate.  For example, there might be a mental health clinic or hospital that has clients who self mutilate.  It may take some research and calls, but again, it hopefully will help to get people to your meeting. 
  6. Put flyers in post offices, libraries or other meeting places.
    Download the Suggested Meeting Format (to come) using Adobe Acrobat. Use this as a guide for how to structure your meeting.
  7. Contact SMA at info@selfmutilatorsanonymous.org. Let us know where your meeting is and the telephone number and/or email address of the contact person. We will post your meeting on this web site. We will post the telephone number and/or email address of the contact person ONLY if he or she requests that we do so.
  8. Email us for the suggested meeting format. The meeting format contains the opening statement, steps, traditions, affirmations, tools, and closing statement.