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Support groups: Share experiences about depression, mental health conditions
Online mental health support groups
Depression and mental health support groups have blossomed on the Internet. The support from a "virtual community" may be just as valuable to you as support from a group that meets in person. Internet support group formats include:
- Mailing lists
- Newsgroups
- Discussion forums
- Blogs
- Live chat rooms
- Social media sites, such as Facebook
Use caution when interacting in Internet support groups:
- Keep in mind some people prey on vulnerable individuals they meet online.
- Be aware of the possibility people may not be who they say they are, or may be trying to market a product or treatment.
- Be careful about revealing personal information, such as your full name, address or phone number, to strangers online.
- Make sure you don't let extensive Internet use lead to isolation from your in-person social network.
Spotting red flags in a mental health support group
Although support groups can offer many benefits, not all support groups are good for you or provide accurate information. Be wary of what other people advocate, and check with your doctor before making any changes. If you have depression, for instance, don't be tempted to stop taking antidepressants without consulting your doctor simply because you may hear about a "natural" product to take instead.
Here are some signs that a mental health support group isn't in your best interest or isn't working for you:
- The group promotes treatments or medications that don't come from medical or mental health professionals or are "backed up" by sketchy research.
- The group offers promises of quick cures that seem too good to be true or seem potentially harmful.
- The group encourages you to stop conventional treatment.
- You feel pressure to try a certain kind of treatment or buy a product.
- Sessions are centered on complaining and negativity.
- A few people dominate the discussions.
- Members insist that you reveal private information.
- The group charges unreasonable fees.
Finding a mental health support group
Ways you can find a support group include:
- Asking your doctor, therapist or mental health provider for a suggestion
- Contacting a local, state or national mental health organization, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- Checking with your church, synagogue or other place of worship
- Looking in your phone book under mental health, counseling or similar topics
- Checking your newspaper for a listing of support resources
- Contacting community centers or libraries
- Getting recommendations from friends or family
- Searching the Internet
Helping yourself with mental health support groups
Support groups for depression and other mental health conditions aren't a substitute for medical treatment or mental health counseling, but they can be a valuable addition. They may teach you new coping skills, encourage you to follow through on treatment and help you feel less isolated. Although opening up to others can initially be difficult, you may get more out of a support group than you thought you could. Be sure to talk openly with your doctor or mental health provider about your participation in support groups. Many doctors today see the benefits of support groups, whether they meet in person or online.
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- Mental health: A report of the Surgeon General. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter5/sec7.html. Accessed July 13, 2009.
- DBSA support groups: An important step on the road to wellness. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/dbsasupgr04.pdf. Accessed July 13, 2009.
- Eysenbach G, et al. Health related virtual communities and electronic support groups: Systematic review of the effects of online peer to peer interactions. British Medical Journal. 2004;328:1166.
