Best Depression Support Groups

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Mental Health America (MHA) is a free, community-based nonprofit founded in 1909 to help those living with mental health issues and to promote the mental health of Americans. The aim of MHA is to help people with their mental health through prevention, early identification, and integrated care.

The organization offers online support groups and discussion communities for a variety of mental health concerns through the Inspire platform. It's designed to connect patients, families, friends, and caregivers, so that they can exchange support and inspiration. Members of the community can post questions and problems to receive support from other members.

MHA also offers webinars to educate individuals, as well as a peer support specialist training program leading to a National Certification as a Peer Specialist (NCPS) credential.

Finally, Mental Health America offers an intervention called "It's My Life: Social Self-Directed Care" to help people build a network of friends and intimate relationships, which is particularly helpful if they are isolated or misunderstood by the people around them.

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The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) offers a list of support groups for people with mental health struggles. These are not groups run by the ADAA itself, but rather a service that the organization provides to help individuals find communities that help them manage their depression and other mental health issues.

The ADAA lists both in-person and online support groups, so individuals should be able to either find one nearby or take advantage of technology to connect with a group.

In addition to a support group directory, the ADAA also provides webinars, podcasts, videos, books, and brochures to help support people's mental health needs, as well as an online anxiety and depression support community. In this way, the ADAA is a standout resource for initiating a search for a depression support group or for finding other resources to improve mental health.

It's important to note that participating in a support group is not a substitute for a diagnosis or treatment from a professional and that the role of communities such as those suggested by the ADAA and other organizations is to help people feel less alone and to have a support system to lean on when things are not going well.

There is no fee to join the online support community run by ADAA. Most in-person support groups listed in the directory will also be free to join, but it's best to inquire about any associated costs with local communities.

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7 Cups of Tea was founded to provide a peer-to-peer support network to bridge the gap for those who have neither a good friend to be a listener nor a therapist with whom to sort through life's problems. The service supports more than 1.3 million people per month and active listeners provide support in more than 152 languages across 191 countries.

It offers a supportive group of communities where individuals can share their struggles and offer support based on their own experiences. In addition to a depression support group, they offer communities for anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, and more. There are also daily check-in threads to share personal updates and check in on others.

7 Cups of Tea also offers one-on-one chat support with a volunteer listener. Listeners are trained to respond with empathy and help individuals navigate the issues they're facing.

There is no fee to join the 7 Cups of Tea support community or to use their one-on-one listening service. However, for professional support, 7 Cups also offers sessions with a therapist at a cost of about $150 per month. Through the service, people will be matched with an experienced, licensed therapist.

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For those interested in finding a local, face-to-face support group for depression, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) has a complete directory where individuals can search by state or even non-U.S. locations.

While the DBSA connects individuals with local, in-person support communities, many of these groups will also use online meeting tools, social media, and email to communicate with individuals and families to provide resources and support.

The main purpose of DBSA support groups is to create a safe space for people to share their experiences and offer support. Meetings typically consist of general information, educational presentations, support group sharing, and individual sharing. They provide educational information and aim to promote understanding and reduce stigma. Each one has a medical advisor who can be contacted to answer specific questions.

Meetings are free and there is no cost to become a DBSA member. However, donations are accepted at each meeting to cover administrative costs. In most cases, there are no fees to join the support groups listed in the DBSA directory, but it is best to check with local support groups individually about associated costs.

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The NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group is unique because it follows a structured model for those recovering from mental illness. Groups are led by trained individuals who ensure that people have the opportunity to share their issues and receive support.

These communities are free for adults over the age of 18 with mental health conditions and meet weekly, biweekly, or monthly, depending on the location. Meetings are 90 minutes long, confidentiality is ensured, and there are no specific recommendations provided in terms of treatment or therapy.

NAMI Connection aims to offer hope and a sense of community. As with all support groups, empathy and understanding are the main goals rather than advice or solutions to problems.

However, by attending groups, the expectation is that people may learn from others' experiences and discover solutions on their own through empowerment. Rather than simply sharing problems in these communities, individuals are collectively devising solutions and making plans to improve their mental health.

There is no fee to join the NAMI recovery support groups.