Find support groups

Many people find peer support a helpful tool that can aid in their recovery. There are a variety of organizations that offer support groups for consumers, their family members and friends. Some support groups are peer-led, while others may be led by a mental health professional.

Your local Mental Health America affiliate is an excellent resource to assist you in finding support groups in your area.

The following organizations also provide support group referrals:
The American Self-Help Clearinghouse and the National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse maintain listings of support groups on a broad range of mental health topics.

Specialized support group resources include:

• Adult Children of Alcoholics
• Al-Anon/Alateen
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• AlcoholScreening.org
• Alzheimer's Association
• American Association of Retired Persons Grief and Loss Information
• American Association of Suicidology: Support for family/friends that have lost a loved one to suicide
• Anxiety Disorders Association of America
• Attention Deficit Disorder Association
• Autism Society of America
• Brain Injury Association of America
• Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
• Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Children of Aging Parents (CAPS)
• Co-Dependents Anonymous
• The Compassionate Friends Grief Support: After the death of a child
• Debtors Anonymous
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
• Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association
• Dual Recovery Anonymous: Support for those who have both a mental health and alcohol/substance abuse problem
• Emotions Anonymous
• Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, a parent support and advocacy network
• Gamblers Anonymous
• Hospice Foundation of America (Grief and Loss section includes link to find a local hospice office; many offices offer grief support groups)
• International Society for the Study of Dissociation
• Male Survivor (Discussion board and chat room for men who have been sexually abused)
• Narcotics Anonymous
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): A family support and advocacy organization
• National Family Caregivers Association
• O.A.S.I.S. (Autism and Asperger Syndrome support group information for both individuals and their family/friends)
• Obsessive Compulsive Foundation
• Overeaters Anonymous
• Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
• Postpartum Support International
• Recovery Inc.
• Schizophrenics Anonymous
• Sex Addicts Anonymous
• Sidran Institute (Extensive information and resources on ptsd, dissociative disorder, trauma, and self injury; e-mail or call 1-888-825-8249 to request support group information)
• Survivors of Incest Anonymous  
• The Arc (Support and information for people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and their families)
• Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc. (Click on Local and Intl. tab on left hand side of the home page)
• Treatment and Research Advancements National Association for Personality Disorder: Borderline Personality Disorder information and support
• Trichotillomania Learning Center, Inc. 
• Voices in Action, Inc. (Support for victims of incest, childhood sexual abuse or sexual trauma and their family, friends and professionals)
• Well Spouse Foundation
• Witness Justice (Information, resources, and on-line support for victims of violence or trauma, their family and friends, and professionals)

Other helpful resources include:

• Behavioral Tech, LLC (Information and resources for people with borderline personality disorder and their friends and family)
• Families for Depression Awareness (Information about depression and bipolar disorder for friends and family members; offer booklet "Helping Someone Who Is Depressed")
• GLBT National Help Center  at 1-888-843-4564 (adults) and 1-800-246-7743 (adolescents) Provides telephone and e-mail peer counseling as well as information and resources
• National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) and 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
• NARSAD The Mental Health Research Association (Information about schizophrenia and depression for individuals and their families)
• S.A.F.E. Alternatives (Information and resources for help with self injury)
• Self Inflicted Violence (Website includes link to sample newsletter The Cutting Edge)
• Survivors Art Foundation (For trauma survivors)

National Toll-Free 24 Hour Hotlines:

• Child-Help USA at 1-800-422-4453 Assists both child and adult survivors of abuse, including sexual abuse. The hotline, staffed by mental health professionals, also provides treatment referrals.
• Covenant House Nineline at 1-800-999-9999 Crisis counselors are available to talk with kids and with caregivers about all types of problems; also offer an on-line forum.
• Girls and Boys Town USA at 1-800-448-3000 Crisis, resource, and referral line that assists both teens and parents
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) connects you with a 24 hour crisis center