RL Support Groups

Does anyone else attend RL support groups?

In the U.S. for mental health I know of DBSA and NAMI.
For addiction recovery there's AA and NA.

Is anyone part of these groups or know any others - not in the USA too perhaps?

Hi, For addiction support I attend AA regularly. I really like it, and find it helpful.

There's also Women for Sobriety (WFS) I like their program a lot, but they only have 1 IRL meeting a week in Toronto. They're nowhere near as big as AA and don't have as many meetings, but they have an awesome website with live chats. I don't tend to go to the meeting as it's a bit hard for me to get to, but I'm on their site every day.

In Canada we have the Canadian Mental Health Agency (CMHA) which in some area's puts on groups.

Here in Ontario, there's also the Mood Dissorders Association of Ontario (MDAO) The run a lot of groups around depression and Bi-polar.

In Toronto, there's also a volunteer, peer run Social Phobia Support Group that meets once a month. I've never been to it though, but may try it, once I'm done with my move.

There's also again a peer run support group for people with Borderline Personality Disorder. I've never been to it either, I just learned about it through the DBT program that I did.

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I attend one of ADAVIC's support groups here in Victoria, Australia. It's a support group for anxiety, but we discuss depression as well.

It's good because it's given me a social outlet if nothing else.

I just started attending a 16-20 person peer-led DBSA group. It is wonderful to sit around and talk about how the week has gone. It is part of a large chapter in my area, so I'd guess they get together sometimes as a whole for larger events. I'm new in town so hoping to make some friends this way.

I like my county's health department support groups.

In Scotland there is Bipolar groups in different cities. My city doesn't have one though. I attend a Depression group which was part of The DAMH. In Scotland the national group is SAMH

I go to both DBSA and NAMI groups, they are both good organizations. Below are links to finding a local support group in your area. One thing I would suggest is trying a variety of groups (if there are several in your area) and giving a group a chance, you might show up on a "bad day" for a great group. I wouldn't ignore your instincts, if you really get a bad vibe from a group I wouldn't force yourself to go back, but if you felt a bit out of place don't give up on the group just from one visit.

http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/Page...rt_findsupport
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?sec...our_Local_Nami

Yes, I go to a local community centre for the mentally ill frequently. It's an amazing place and I don't think I'd function without it.

I would like it if support groups were available here though, I'm still looking for that.