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.
| Online Peer Support Groups | ||||||
| GROUP | WHEN | WHERE | CONTACT | |||
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Every Monday 7-9pm | Alternates weekly between online and in-person meetings in Vancouver | Alison:alison.mdabc@gmail.com for Zoom |
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| Tuesday Evening Support Group | 1st, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays 6:00pm - 8:00pm | Online | Dave: davemda@gmail.com or Lisa: lisakleiman2013@gmail.com |
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| Self-Compassion Group | Every Tuesday 6:30pm | Online | mdaselfcareselfcompassion@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 1st Tuesday of the Month 7pm - 9 pm | Online | Please contact Janice for Zoom information | |||
| Mindfulness Group | Every Wednesday 5:30-7:30pm | Online | mindful.mooddisorders@gmail.com | |||
| New West Adult Support Group | Every Thursday 7:00pm | Online | mdanewwest@gmail.com | |||
| Abbotsford Adult Support Group | Every Thursday 7:00pm | Alternates between online and in-person meetings | Contact: mda.abbotsford@gmail.com |
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| Tri-City Support Group | Thursday 7:00-9:00pm, biweekly via Zoom Contact facilitator for dates | Online | Gayle or Carol tricity.mdabc@gmail.com |
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| MOSAIC East Side Support Group | Every Friday 2:00pm | Online | mosaicmda@gmail.com | |||
| Families and Friends of People with Bipolar Disorder | 2nd & 4th Sunday 9:00am | Online | family.and.loved1s@gmail.com | |||
| Bipolar Support Group | Every Sunday 7:00pm | Online | mdabipolargroup@gmail.com | |||
| In-Person Peer Support Groups: Vancouver & Burnaby | ||||||
| GROUP | WHEN | WHERE | CONTACT | |||
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Every Monday 7-9pm | Alternates weekly between online and in-person meetings in Vancouver | Martin:martin.mdabc@gmail.com for in-person | |||
| 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 |
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| Well-Being Meetup Recreation Group | October1- March 31 2nd and 4th Sunday 2PM-4PM | Meet at Vancouver Public Library's Main Branch on the Rooftop Gardens 9th Floor | Go to Facebook page Note: The recreation portion of the group is weather permitting. For fall/winter there will be a mental wellness discussion group if weather is not appropriate for walking. |
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| The Burnaby Support Group | Every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the Month 10:30am-12:30pm | Tommy Douglas Library 7311 Kingsway Burnaby BC (Kingsway/Edmonds) | theburnabygroup@hotmail.com | |||
| In-Person Peer Support Groups: Surrey, Langley & Abbotsford | ||||||
| GROUP | WHEN | WHERE | CONTACT | |||
| The Dopers Group 1 | Every 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 | |||
| The Dopers Group 2 | Every Wednesday 11:00am | The Bridge Community Church 5521 Brydon Crescent Langley, BC V3A4A4 | Please drop in Contact: Nancy Fitzpatrick 236.880.1485 dopers604@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. | Meets every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 1:30 to 3:00pm | In person at various locations | Please drop in. Contact Yolanda Schella or Brenda 604.302.7726 |
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| Abbotsford Adult Support Group | Every Thursday 7:00pm | Alternates between online and in-person meetings | Contact: mda.abbotsford@gmail.com | |||
| In-Person Peer Support Groups: Vancouver Island | ||||||
| GROUP | WHEN | WHERE | CONTACT | |||
| Begbie Adult Support Group | 1st & 3rd Wednesday 7:30pm | In-person meetings in Victoria, BC | begbiemoodsupport@hotmail.com | |||
| In-Person Peer Support Groups: Interior BC | ||||||
| GROUP | WHEN | WHERE | CONTACT | |||
| Vernon Adult Support Group | Every Friday at 1:30 pm | Canadian Mental Health Assoc. 3100 28th Avenue, Vernon, BC | Please drop in. For information, contact Patricia at 250.558.6900 |
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| Groups on Hold Until Further Notice | ||||
| Moving Beyong Youth Group (ages 19-29) | Group is on hold until further Notice | Online | movingbeyond.bc@gmail.com | |
| Indigenous/First Nation Bipolar Support Group | Group is on hold until further Notice | Online | indigenousbspg@gmail.com | |
| South Surrey Depression Support Group | Group is on hold until further Notice | Online | Contact Liam depressiongroup@icloud.com |
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| Newton Adult Support Group | Group is on hold until further Notice | Online | Contact Nuvi 604.561.5344 MDAfacilitator@hotmail.com |
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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.