Depression support groupsallow individuals with depression to talk about their experiences while offering each other encouragement, empathy, understanding, and support.These types of groups are ideally suited to those who are already receiving treatment for depression from a mental health professional, but who also want a personalized connection with others who have been in the same situation and who can offer support.While friends and family can provide support, they often don’t have the same level of understanding as others who have been through the same experiences. In this way, the main benefits of joining a depression support group include ongoing social contact with others in the same position, opportunities to share struggles and work through solutions, and advice from mental health professionals, when they act as co-facilitators of support groups.The 5 Best Depression Support Groups of 2021Best Overall:Mental Health America (MHA)Best for Support Group Directory:Anxiety and Depression Association of AmericaBest One-on-One:7 Cups of TeaBest Local:Depression and Bipolar Support AllianceBest Structured Group:NAMI Connection
Depression support groupsallow individuals with depression to talk about their experiences while offering each other encouragement, empathy, understanding, and support.These types of groups are ideally suited to those who are already receiving treatment for depression from a mental health professional, but who also want a personalized connection with others who have been in the same situation and who can offer support.While friends and family can provide support, they often don’t have the same level of understanding as others who have been through the same experiences. In this way, the main benefits of joining a depression support group include ongoing social contact with others in the same position, opportunities to share struggles and work through solutions, and advice from mental health professionals, when they act as co-facilitators of support groups.
Depression support groupsallow individuals with depression to talk about their experiences while offering each other encouragement, empathy, understanding, and support.
These types of groups are ideally suited to those who are already receiving treatment for depression from a mental health professional, but who also want a personalized connection with others who have been in the same situation and who can offer support.
While friends and family can provide support, they often don’t have the same level of understanding as others who have been through the same experiences. In this way, the main benefits of joining a depression support group include ongoing social contact with others in the same position, opportunities to share struggles and work through solutions, and advice from mental health professionals, when they act as co-facilitators of support groups.
The 5 Best Depression Support Groups of 2021Best Overall:Mental Health America (MHA)Best for Support Group Directory:Anxiety and Depression Association of AmericaBest One-on-One:7 Cups of TeaBest Local:Depression and Bipolar Support AllianceBest Structured Group:NAMI Connection
Best Depression Support GroupsView AllBest Depression Support GroupsOur Top PicksMental Health America (MHA)Anxiety and Depression Association of America7 Cups of TeaDepression and Bipolar Support AllianceNAMI ConnectionSee More (2)FAQsMethodology
Best Depression Support GroupsView All
View All
Best Depression Support Groups
FAQs
Methodology
Best Overall:Mental Health America (MHA)
Mental Health AmericaSign Up Now
Mental Health America
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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.
Best for Support Group Directory:Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Anxiety and Depression Association of AmericaSign Up Now
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
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 adepressionsupport group or for finding other resources to improve mental health.
Best One-on-One:7 Cups of Tea7 Cups of TeaSign Up Now7 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 offerssessions with a therapistat a cost of about $150 per month. Through the service, people will be matched with an experienced, licensed therapist.
Best One-on-One:7 Cups of Tea
7 Cups of TeaSign Up Now7 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 offerssessions with a therapistat a cost of about $150 per month. Through the service, people will be matched with an experienced, licensed therapist.
7 Cups of TeaSign Up Now
7 Cups of Tea
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 offerssessions with a therapistat a cost of about $150 per month. Through the service, people will be matched with an experienced, licensed therapist.
Best Local:Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Depression and Bipolar Support AllianceSign Up Now
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
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.
Best Structured Group:NAMI Connection
NAMI ConnectionSign Up Now
NAMI Connection
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.
There is no fee to join the NAMI recovery support groups.
What Are Depression Support Groups?
Depression support groups help individuals with depression connect with one another to provide and receive emotional support. The idea behind these communities is that the best person to offer empathy and understanding is someone else who has experienced what you are going through or who is walking through it right now.
Is a Depression Support Group Right for Me?
A depression support group may be right for you if you are already receiving treatment for depression or have completed treatment and are looking for additional support. Hearing from others who have had similar experiences may help you to feel less alone.
How Are Depression Support Groups Structured?
An online depression support group will usually have a forum moderator who volunteers to manage the group. As these groups usually run 24 hours a day and members communicate asynchronously (at different times), there is a need to manage discussions and make sure that members are not breaking the rules of the group.
How Much Do Depression Support Groups Cost?
Do These Groups Accept Insurance?
In general, support groups do not accept insurance because there is no fee to attend. However, if you wish to receive additional services that require a fee, it’s best to inquire whether insurance might cover these costs.
Seek Help NowIf you are having a personal crisis and need to talk to someone immediately,visit our national helpline database.
Seek Help Now
If you are having a personal crisis and need to talk to someone immediately,visit our national helpline database.
How We Chose the Best Depression Support Groups
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Support groups were chosen based on the reputation of the hosting organization, accessibility, specificity to depression, and breadth of resources. When choosing a support group, it’s important to consider your own specific circumstances and needs.
For those who are looking for a more personal approach, we chose one-on-one support groups like 7 Cups of Tea. We also handpicked the Anxiety and Depression Association of America as a general resource/directory where users could find in-person or online support groups specific to their needs.
Article SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Here to Help.Choosing a Support Group That’s Right for You.
Article Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Here to Help.Choosing a Support Group That’s Right for You.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Here to Help.Choosing a Support Group That’s Right for You.
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