What is an MDABC 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 concerns. At a 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 facilitated by trained volunteers with lived experience of mental health concerns.
Please Note: Support groups are not intended to provide counselling or therapy.
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Click here to read the MDABC Peer Support Group Agreements.
How can I find an MDABC Support Group?​
MDABC has more than 25 Peer-led Support Groups in cities and towns across British Columbia. You will find the group contacts, meeting times, and locations on this page. ​
All of our Peer Support Groups are free of charge and require no registration; just drop in and you will be welcomed. * Only the PTSD groups require an intake prior to joining the group. Please contact the facilitator to discuss your suitability.
Some groups have decided to continue to meet ‘virtually’. Please contact the facilitator of a group to register for a Zoom Group or to inquire if a particular group is meeting via Zoom.
A link to Zoom meetings protocol guide can be found here.
The following groups are currently meeting ONLINE or IN PERSON:
| Online Peer Support Groups | ||||||
| GROUP | WHEN | WHERE | CONTACT | |||
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Biweekly on Monday 7-9pm - Contact facilitator for dates | Online | Alison:ptsdonlinesupport@mdabc.net for Zoom |
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| Tuesday Evening Support Group | 1st, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays 6:00pm - 8:00pm | Online | Dave and Lisa: tuesdayeveningsupport@mdabc.net for Zoom |
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| 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. | Meets Every Tuesday except the 1st Tuesday of the Month 7pm - 9 pm | Online | Janice: faithbasedsupport@mdabc.net for Zoom | |||
| Self-Compassion Group | Every Tuesday 6:30pm | Online | Aleks: selfcompassionsupport@mdabc.net for zoom | |||
| Abbotsford Adult Support Group | Every Thursday 7:00pm | Alternates between online and in-person meetings | Contact: Bryan and Sandra abbotsfordsupport@mdabc.net |
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| Tri-City Support Group | Contact facilitator for dates | In-person Coquitlam Library - Poirer Branch (575 Poirier St, Coquitlam, BC) | Carol tricitysupport@mdabc.net |
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| MOSAIC East Side Support Group | Every Friday 2:00pm | Online | Don: eastvansupport@mdabc.net | |||
| Families and Friends of People with Bipolar Disorder | 2nd & 4th Sunday 9:00am | Online | familysupport@mdabc.net |
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| Bipolar Support Group | Every Sunday 7:00pm | Online | Jason bipolarsupport@mdabc.net | |||
| In-Person Peer Support Groups: Vancouver & Burnaby | ||||||
| GROUP | WHEN | WHERE | CONTACT | |||
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | 1st or 2nd Monday of the month, 7PM-9PM | East Vancouver | Joey: ptsdsupport@mdabc.net | |||
| 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 | In person-Granville Chapel 5901 Granville street, Vancouver * Please contact Janice by email first to confirm the event is taking place* | Janice: faithbasedsupport@mdabc.net | |||
| 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 burnabyfaithsupport@mdabc.net |
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| Wellness 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 | Email: wellnessrecgroup@mdabc.net 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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| In-Person Peer Support Groups: Surrey, Langley & Abbotsford | ||||||
| GROUP | WHEN | WHERE | CONTACT | |||
| 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 abbotsforddaithsupport@mdabc.net 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: Bryan and Sandraabbotsfordsupport@mdabc.net | |||
| In-Person Peer Support Groups: Vancouver Island | ||||||
| GROUP | WHEN | WHERE | CONTACT | |||
| Victoria Adult Support Group | 1st & 3rd Wednesday 7:30pm | Island Community Mental Health 125 Skinner Street, Victoria, BC | Please contact: lowerislandsupport@mdabc.net | |||
| 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 or email vernonsupport@mdabc.net |
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| Groups on Hold Until Further Notice | ||||
| The Burnaby Support Group | Group is on hold until further notice | Online | Marc Majorel burnabysupport@mdabc.net |
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| Grief and Loss Support | Group is on hold until further notice | Online | Marc:Marc.Majorel@mdabc.net for Zoom |
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| Mindfulness Group | Group is on hold until further notice | Every Wednesday 5:30-7:30pm | mindfulsupport@mdabc.net | |
| 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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| New West Adult Support Group | Group is on hold until further Notice | Every Thursday 7:00pm | mdanewwest@gmail.com | |
| Newton Adult Support Group | Group is on hold until further Notice | Online | Contact Nuvi 604.561.5344 MDAfacilitator@hotmail.com |
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