13 Online Support Groups That Are Here to Help Right Now
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We’re in week-whatever of this pandemic, and you may be struggling if you’ve been accustomed to getting help and support from in-person groups—whether it’s for addiction, trauma, mental illness, or another health issue. Or maybe you want guidance with one of these issues but you prefer the privacy, anonymity, and convenience of an online forum. There are plenty of online support groups that can help, including those that have moved from in-person to an online format specifically because of the pandemic. Here, some online support groups to consider.
For Survivors of Abuse, Rape, and Sexual Assault
Isurvive.com is an online support group for survivors of child abuse. Members have access to various forums, as well as a chat room where they can find help and empathy from others who have been through a similar experience.
Pandora’s Project is a source for victims of rape, sexual abuse, or sexual assault; it has a chat room, message board, and blogs where people can find support from other victims.
Womenslaw.org has good information about how abuse/assault victims can protect their privacy while using online resources.
For Weight Loss
If you’re a member of WW (formerly known as Weight Watchers) and miss going to weekly meetings, you can still attend them virtually. (You can also go ahead and become a member and find a group to join.) You’ll have to weigh yourself at home, but you can still touch base with the other participants and get wisdom from your group leader. Check out this finder to locate your usual studio or to join one.
For Substance Abuse
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Alcoholics Anonymous groups, which give support to those struggling with alcohol problems, have moved to phone or virtual meetings. Each AA group is autonomous, so there isn’t one central site to get this information; the place to begin is with AA’s meeting guide, where you can start the search for local meetings with your zip code.
LifeRing is a secular, abstinence-based sobriety support organization, offering peer support groups. It’s seen as an alternative or adjunct for people dealing with addictions to alcohol or drugs who don’t relate to AA’s emphasis on a higher power. Life Ring has online support groups via zoom.
Women for Sobriety is a self-help program focusing on emotional and spiritual growth. It was founded and is run by women, with the understanding that women’s recovery often follows a different route than men’s. WFS “welcomes all expressions of female identity” and offers online peer support.
An offshoot of Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon is a group that offers support for family and friends of those suffering from alcoholism and other addictions. Like AA, each group is autonomous, following the purpose and structure of the organization. There are a number of various electronic groups available, done via Zoom, email, phone, or message boards.
For Grief
If you’re grieving the loss of a family or friend, check out Griefshare’s support groups. Right now, the groups are online because of COVID-19. Griefshare is run by Church Initiative, a “nondenominational, nonprofit ministry.” To find a group near you, search by zipcode.
For Mental Health
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America is a non-profit dedicated to “the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder, and co-occurring disorders through education, practice, and research.” It offers online support groups for those suffering from anxiety and depression, to give them a forum to talk to others who are also dealing with these conditions.
Mental Health America has a free community providing online support for people dealing with a host of issues, including anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, and personality disorders.
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) has free online support groups, led by people who also suffer from mood disorders. Some of the groups are specifically for young adults, and others are for family, friends, and caregivers of those with mood disorders.
Support Groups Central is a place to find online groups, not only those categorized by condition (whether that’s borderline personality disorder or addiction) but also groups specifically for people of color, LBGTQIA+, and military veterans. Plus, it has links to groups that focus on other health issues, such as cancer or diabetes. Most of the groups are free, and Support Groups Central says that they're all led by people who have personal experience in whatever the issue is, and many are certified or licensed in that particular issue.
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