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MDABC Support Groups

Resources / MDABC Support Groups

What is a peer support group?

An MDABC peer-led support group is a safe place to share your story, your struggles and accomplishments, and to listen to others as they share similar experiences. At an MDABC support group, you can get a sense of belonging, informal education about your mental health challenges, and the support of others who have ‘been there‘. Support groups are led by trained volunteers who also live with and deal with mental health concerns.

Support groups do not provide counselling or treatment.

​Peer support groups are free of charge. Most groups do not require pre-registration, but before you join for the first time, it is important to connect with the facilitator and learn about how groups work. You may be asked to come to your first meeting early for an orientation.

The contact information for each group is provided in the lists below. Please note that some groups require pre-registration; contact the facilitator for details.

Medical professionals and agencies please note:

Please do not refer clients or patients to an MDABC peer support group for counselling or treatment of a mental health condition. Joining a support group is done by self-referral only. Also, do not send any client’s medical history to a support group leader or contact; this would be a violation of patient confidentiality. If you are interested in referring a client for treatment, please see our psychiatric clinic page or additional medical treatments page, or contact our office at (604) 873-0103.

 

The following groups are currently active

The list is organized by region for convenience, but many groups are operating online using Zoom. You can participate in online groups no matter where you are located, and no matter which region the group is based in.

 

GROUPWHENWHERECONTACT
Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, North Shore
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Every Monday 7-9pmAlternates between online and in-person meetingsAlison:alison.mdabc@gmail.com for Zoom
Martin: martin.mdabc@hotmail.com for in-person
Moving Beyond Youth Group (ages 19-29)Bi-weekly on Mondays
7:00 pm
OnlineEmail movingbeyond.bc@gmail.com for dates and Zoom info
Catalyst support group for women dealing with PTSD and post-traumatic growth1st and 3rd Tuesdays
7:00 to 9:00 pm

Pre-registration is required.
Onlinelaurie.mdabc@gmail.com
Tuesday Evening Support Group 1st, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays
6:00pm - 8:00pm
OnlineDave: davemda@gmail.com
or
Lisa: lisakleiman2013@gmail.com
Self-Compassion GroupEvery Tuesday
6:30pm
Onlinemdaselfcareselfcompassion@gmail.com
Faith-Based Evening Support Group
This is not a standard MDABC group. It is a faith-based support group for people with mood disorders. It includes prayer and a devotional.
Every Tuesday
7 - 9 pm
OnlinePlease contact Janice for Zoom information
Mindfulness GroupEvery Wednesday
5:30-7:30pm(Starting from 25 Jan, 2023)
Onlinemindful.mooddisorders@gmail.com
Indigenous/First Nations Bipolar Support Group2nd & 4th Wednesday
7:00pm
indigenousbpsg@gmail.com
Burnaby Faith-Based Support Group
This is not a standard MDABC group. It is a faith-based support group for people with mood disorders. It includes prayer and a devotional.
2nd and 4th Friday
12 noon - 2 pm
Brentwood Park Alliance Church
1410 Delta Ave., Burnaby
Please drop in.
Contact Suzy
MOSAIC East Side Support GroupEvery Friday
2:00pm
Onlinemosaicmda@gmail.com
Well-Being Meetup Recreation GroupApril through September
2nd and 4th Fridays,
6:30 pm
Meet in front of Canada PlaceGo to Facebook page
Note: This is an activity group, not a sharing circle.
The Burnaby Support Group1st and 3rd Saturdays
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Onlinethemdaburnabygroup@outlook.com
Families and Friends of People with Bipolar Disorder2nd & 4th Sunday
9:00am
Onlinefamily.and.loved1s@gmail.com
Bipolar Support GroupEvery Sunday
7:00pm
Online mdabipolargroup@gmail.com
Delta, Surrey, Coquitlam, Fraser Valley
New West Adult Support GroupEvery Thursday
7:00pm
Onlinemdanewwest@gmail.com
South Surrey Depression Support GroupThursdays, every two weeks, 7:00 pm
In-person AND via Zoom
Online and in-person. Contact leader for location.Contact Liam
depressiongroup@icloud.com
Abbotsford Adult Support GroupEvery Thursday 7:00pmAlternates between online and in-person meetingsContact:
mda.abbotsford@gmail.com
Abbotsford Faith-Based Support Group
This is not a standard MDABC group. It is a faith-based support group for people with mood disorders. It includes prayer and a devotional.
2nd and 4th Friday
12 noon - 2 pm
Central Heights Church
1661 McCallum Road, Abbotsford
Please drop in.
Contact Yolanda Schella or Brenda 604.302.7726
Tri-City Support GroupThursday 7:00-9:00pm, biweekly via Zoom
Contact facilitator for dates
OnlineGayle or Carol
tricity.mdabc@gmail.com
Vancouver Island
Begbie Adult Support Group1st & 3rd Wednesday
7:30pm
Online, seeking an in-person locationbegbiemoodsupport@hotmail.com
Interior BC
Vernon Adult Support GroupEvery Friday at 1:30 pmCanadian Mental Health Assoc.
3100 28th Avenue,
Vernon, BC
Please drop in.
For information, contact Patricia at 250.558.6900

 


 

The following groups are on hold until further notice: 

 

GROUPWHENWHERECONTACT
METRO VANCOUVER REGION:
Burnaby Peer Support Groups
Langley Peer Support Groups
The Dopers Group 2Every Wednesday
11:00am
The Bridge Community Church
5521 Brydon Crescent
Langley, BC VA 4A4
Please Drop In
Contact:
Nancy Fitzpatrick
236.880.1485
dopers604@gmail.com
Richmond Peer Support Groups
Surrey Peer Support Groups
Newton Adult Support GroupEvery 3rd Monday
6:00 – 8:00pm
The "Roost" Clubhouse
13582 68 Ave,
Surrey, BC
Please Drop In
Contact:
Nuvi
604.561.5344
MDAfacilitator@hotmail.com
The Dopers Group 1Every Tuesday
2:00pm
Health Building – Lookout Society
10697 – 135A Street
Surrey, BC V3T 4E3
Please Drop In
Contact:
Nancy Fitzpatrick
236.880.1485
dopers604@gmail.com
Vancouver Peer Support Groups
White Rock Peer Support Groups
FRASER VALLEY REGION:
Abbotsford Peer Support Groups
VANCOUVER ISLAND/COASTAL REGION:
Campbell River Support Groups
Cowichan Valley - Duncan Support Groups
Nanaimo Support Groups
Powell River Support Groups
COLUMBIA-SHUSWAP REGION:
Salmon Arm Support Groups
NORTH OKANAGAN REGION:
Kelowna Support Groups

Support group documents

Lookout staff support group procedures – The Group Agreements that govern how meetings are conducted and how group members conduct themselves.

For information about how group meetings operate using Zoom, click here.

 

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Want to Volunteer to be a Peer Support Group Facilitator?

We are so glad that you are interested in supporting your community. Thank you!

As our groups are peer led, our volunteer facilitators must have some lived experience with mood disorders.

 

How to become a support group facilitator

Step 1: First, join a  peer support group  in order to find out how they work. You’ll find out how group members share and cooperate, and you’ll see what the facilitators do to make the meeting successful.

Step 2: If you believe that facilitating is something that you would be interested in, and could do well, ask the facilitator to forward your contact information to MDABC.

Step 3: We will get in touch with you to register you in our next facilitator training session.

Step 4: We will discuss whether you would like to start a new support group, or join an existing group as a co-facilitator.

We look forward to hearing from you.

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