Kansas Governor Sam Brownback proclaimed January as Support Group Awareness Month in a signing ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 10, in Topeka.

As stated in the proclamation, support groups have been recognized nationally and internationally as an efficient, practical, cost-effective means of coping with life crises and physical and mental health care concerns.

"It is very exciting to have the governor recognize the importance of support groups as a supplement to health and human services in Kansas," said Angela Gaughan, support group services project specialist at Wichita State University Center for Community Support and Research. "I constantly visit with people who are looking to make a connection with a support group in their community or who lead and organize groups around specific issues."

In Kansas, more than 3,000 community support groups, national organizations and websites provide help for a broad range of specific issues. Groups gather around many medical conditions, parenting, caregiving, grief, and a variety of other topics.

Contact information for support groups can be accessed online at www.kansashealthsolution.org/Shn1.0 or by calling (800) 445-0116 or (316) 978-3843 in Kansas.