It expands by word of mouth and whispers, the informal network of mothers who have found in each other a place to talk about having children with illnesses that are often kept secret.
One mother whose son is struggling found them because she was crying every day at work. A coworker who knew someone in the group got her in touch with the other moms.
Other people approach Mary Jo Andrews after she speaks at events about mental illness. “Are you taking new people in your group?” they ask. She tries to make sure they’d fit, that they’re not dealing with “normal teenage stuff.”
This group is for moms whose children have serious mental illness.