I go to a peer support group for bipolar and depression. We don't have speakers except during May - mental health month. A nurse who has a brother with bipolar set up the group. She makes copies of articles that may be helpful to people, usually from BP magazine. BP has their old issues online and you can print them out. There are many "regulars" in the group. We read the DBSA guidelines for groups - confidentiality, respect, no side conversations, share the air, etc. We then go around the tables and introduce ourselves (first names only) and say why we are there. Then someone will bring up a topic or situation they are in and the conversation starts. We have no real problem keeping discussions going. If it gets quiet the nurse will ask someone who hadn't if they want to check in. You are free to decline. It is a low pressure, friendly, supportive, informative group. We occasionally will get someone in the group who is not really ready to participate in a group. They usually don't stay in the group very long although they are treated well. (example is someone who is actively psychotic and out of touch with reality; someone who doesn't believe they have bipolar). We meet on the first and third Wednesday of the week in a room provided by the mental health clinic the nurse works at. Churches are often willing to provide space for support groups. Don't get too ambitious, keep it simple.