Do you want to talk to a peer or a trained professional about your depression? Online support groups and services are available to you.
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Best Online Depression Support Groups in 2023
Do you want to talk to a peer or a trained professional about your depression? Online support groups and services are available to you.
When you are depressed, you frequently require immediate assistance. Depression does not operate on a regular schedule.
Every year, approximately 17.3 million adults in the United States
Trusted Source has had at least one major depression episode. If you’re one of those people, you know how difficult it can be to get through.
Nonetheless, the internet provides numerous ways to get the help you need when you need it. We’ve narrowed it down to the top nine online depression support groups to help you sort through the sea of options.
List of the best online depression support groups
If you want to skip ahead to the sections for each resource, use the links below.
Suicide prevention
Online therapy and support services, such as those mentioned in this article, are generally incapable of assisting in times of crisis (though many services list helpful resources, such as phone numbers to national and international crisis hotlines).
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide or self-harm, you are not alone, and help is available:
Criteria we used to pick
To find the right services, we reviewed numerous contenders, looking at the following:
Our picks of the best online depression support
Mental Health America’s Inspire support community has over 2 million registered members and is a 24/7 online chat that supports individuals, families, friends, and caregivers.
With over 100 categories, members can find a group of people who can relate to their specific needs and difficulties.
There are general support groups for depression, grief and bereavement, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicide, to name a few. Additionally, you can search for groups based on specific medical conditions such as cancer and diabetes, as well as less common diseases such as scleroderma and myocarditis. Families, caregivers, teens, and young adults can also join groups designed specifically for them.
Members can “friend” and message other members, as well as participate in discussion feeds in their specific community. Each community has moderators on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that comments are kind and supportive.
Why we chose it
Mental Health America is a mental health advocacy organisation that has been around since 1909. The Inspire Support Community is always available and has over 100 support groups to assist you with your specific needs.
What we like
What to look out for
Best peer-to-peer support
Cost: nothing
Structure: 90-minute online meeting on a regular basis, peer-led by a trained leader.
According to the researchers, peer-to-peer support has numerous advantages. Connecting with others who understand your condition can help you feel less alone, learn tried-and-true coping strategies, and even remove some of the stigma associated with depression.
This is where NAMI comes in. NAMI’s groups are filled with people who have experienced the same mental health symptoms and follow a structured model. They’re also led by people who have walked in your shoes.
Their 90-minute meetings, most of which are held weekly, are confidential spaces in which you can share your experiences and difficulties without feeling judged. You’ll most likely leave with some helpful advice and solutions to whatever is bothering you.
Why we chose it
NAMI provides structured peer-to-peer support,
What we like
What to look out for
Best for community
Cost: Self-Care plan: $8.99 per month, $53.99 per year; some insurance plans may cover it.
Structure: A 24/7 chat room within the therapy app and website.
Sanvello is an online therapy app and website that specialises in treating anxiety and depression. It has a community hub that it describes as a “judgement-free, label-free space.” You’ll almost certainly find someone in this chat room who is going through the same problems you are.
Community members offer words of comfort and understanding. It may make you feel less alone, and because of Sanvello’s community rules, you are unlikely to face negativity or bullying.
Still, keep in mind that recommendations from other users are not medical advice and may not be evidence-based.
Why we chose it
The Sanvello community hub and chats may provide temporary relief in between therapy appointments. The neighbourhood is described as a safe, supportive, and bully-free environment.
What we like
What to look out for
Best for specialised groups
Why we chose it
What we like
What to look out for