Support groups are community-based gatherings that bring together people who share a common experience or challenge in order to provide emotional and social assistance to one another. People are able to feel comfortable sharing their experiences, gaining insight from those around them, as well as giving and receiving support within these groups, which provide a secure and encouraging atmosphere. Support groups can be useful in addressing a variety of mental health and recovery issues because they provide a sense of belonging, validation, and understanding that can help individuals feel less alone in their struggles. This, in turn, can be beneficial in the treatment of these issues.
Here are some different types of support groups that are available, including their online equivalents:
- Addiction support groups:
These groups bring together individuals who struggle with addiction and help them navigate the challenges of recovery. Examples include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Smart Recovery. Online equivalents include In The Rooms and Sober Grid. - Mental health support groups:
These groups bring together individuals who live with various mental health challenges, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Examples include the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), and Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). Online equivalents include 7 Cups and SupportGroups.com. - Caregiver support groups:
These groups offer support and resources to those who care for individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities. Examples include the Alzheimer’s Association and the Family Caregiver Alliance. Online equivalents include Caregiver Space and Lotsa Helping Hands. - Grief and bereavement support groups:
These groups offer support and comfort to those who are coping with the loss of a loved one. Examples include The Compassionate Friends and Bereaved Parents of the USA. Online equivalents include GriefShare and Online Grief Support. - LGBTQ+ support groups:
These groups offer support and resources to individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. Examples include the Trevor Project and PFLAG. Online equivalents include Queer Virtual Support and Pride Counseling. - Eating disorder support groups:
These groups offer support and resources to individuals who struggle with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or other eating disorders. Examples include the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and Eating Disorder Hope. Online equivalents include Project Heal and Eating Disorder Recovery Support. - Chronic pain support groups:
These groups offer support and resources to individuals who live with chronic pain. Examples include the American Chronic Pain Association and the National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association. Online equivalents include Chronic Pain Anonymous and My Chronic Pain Team. - Codependency support groups:
These groups offer support and resources to individuals who struggle with codependency and enabling behaviors. Examples include Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) and Codependency No More. Online equivalents include Codependency Support Group and Online CoDA. - Gambling support groups:
These groups offer support and resources to individuals who struggle with problem gambling. Examples include Gamblers Anonymous (GA) and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). Online equivalents include GamTalk and Gam-Anon. - Survivors of abuse support groups:
These groups offer support and resources to individuals who have experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Examples include RAINN and The Voices and Faces Project. Online equivalents include After Silence and Pandora’s Aquarium. - Postpartum depression support groups:
These groups offer support and resources to individuals who experience depression or anxiety after giving birth. Examples include Postpartum Support International (PSI) and The Blue Dot Project. Online equivalents include Postpartum Support International Online Support Group and Postpartum Support International Online Chat. - Infertility support groups:
These groups offer support and resources to individuals who struggle with infertility and pregnancy loss. Examples include Resolve: The National Infertility Association and The Broken Brown Egg. Online equivalents include Fertility Friends and Fertile Thoughts. - Veterans support groups:
These groups offer support and resources to military veterans and their families. Examples include the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Wounded Warrior Project. Online equivalents include My HealtheVet and the Veterans Crisis Line. - Stroke survivor support groups:
These groups offer support and resources to individuals who have survived a stroke and their families. Examples include the National Stroke Association and the American Heart Association. Online equivalents include StrokeNet and the Stroke Survivors Foundation. - Multiple sclerosis support groups:
These groups offer support and resources to individuals who live with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their families. Examples include the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. Online equivalents include MS World and the MS Connection. - Parenting support groups:
These groups offer support and resources to parents of children of all ages. Examples include Parents Anonymous and the Parenting Network. Online equivalents include The Mom Forum and The Dad Network. - Career and job loss support groups:
These groups offer support and resources to individuals who have experienced job loss or are in career transition. Examples include Job Loss Recovery and Career Pivot. Online equivalents include LinkedIn Groups and Jobcase.
Support groups are extremely important to both mental health and the healing process. They provide a sense of community as well as validation, both of which can assist individuals in feeling less isolated and alone in their difficulties. Individuals have the ability to gain new perspectives, develop strategies for coping, and establish meaningful connections with others who understand what they are going through if they talk about their experiences and share them with others. Individuals also find it much simpler to gain access to these resources without having to leave the convenience of their own homes as a result of the proliferation of online support groups.