Peer Support and Communities
Support from people who have been through it rather than from clinicians: moderated communities, online support groups, trained listeners, warmlines and recovery meeting networks. It is free or close to it, available at hours therapy is not, and it is not treatment, which the better services say themselves. The entries record who moderates, whether the peers are trained or certified, what the community rules are, whether it can be used anonymously, and what happens when somebody posts that they are in danger.
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Free peer-support meetings (online and in-person), mobile app, and toolkit for addiction recovery nationwide, no long-term commitment required.
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National nonprofit providing free peer support groups and self-help wellness tools for people living with mood disorders.
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Free online peer support platform with 700+ moderated health communities for connecting with people who share your experiences.
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Anonymous peer-support community moderated by licensed clinicians, accessible 24/7 through universities, employers and health plans.
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Global anonymous peer support community app with multi-layered human and AI safeguarding, running since 2013.
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Anonymous 24/7 peer support through moderated group chats with clinical oversight, marketed to individuals and benefit plans.
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National nonprofit peer-led sober community with app-based events, volunteer pathways, and the
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National nonprofit providing free counseling, support groups, and financial assistance for people affected by cancer through licensed oncology social workers.
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National nonprofit providing free peer-led support for postpartum depression and perinatal mental health through a HelpLine, online groups and community.
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National nonprofit mobilizing youth and young adults through college and K-12 chapters, leadership programs, and community mental-health advocacy.
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National nonprofit providing 24/7 crisis counseling and peer support by phone, text, and chat for LGBTQ+ young people.
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National nonprofit with 24/7 helpline (800-272-3900), online tools and caregiver support groups for families affected by Alzheimer's and dementia across all 50 US states.
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A peer-support discussion forum with treatment guides, articles, and AI-based virtual therapists for PTSD and complex trauma survivors.
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Free peer-led recovery program based on Buddhist practice with hundreds of meetings worldwide.
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National nonprofit providing free peer support, crisis resources, and volunteer mental health services for people impacted by human-made trauma and military-connected populations.
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National nonprofit offering caregiver support groups and services by state, plus a Bay Area regional center.
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Nonprofit organization offering free OCD education, therapist directory, support groups and professional training for people with obsessive compulsive disorder.
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Licensed therapist directory searchable by US location with 1408 members specializing in anxiety, depression, OCD and PTSD.
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Nation's oldest eating disorder nonprofit with free helpline, peer support groups, recovery mentors, and treatment directory.
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National nonprofit funding therapy for Black women and nonbinary individuals through an annual voucher program.
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National 501c3 organization connecting Black communities with mental health professionals, trainings, and healing resources.
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National nonprofit offering free therapy sessions and wellness programs for BIPOC and underrepresented communities, plus a therapist directory.
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National nonprofit providing peer support groups, resource line, caregiver support and education for schizophrenia and psychosis.
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Nonprofit peer-support network for addiction recovery based on secular principles, offering free online and in-person meetings, eGroups, ePals, and a community forum.
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Free peer support groups running every hour, plus paid 1-on-1 sessions and workshops; 2+ million people connected.
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Therapist-led mental health classes and community available live and on-demand for $49 per month.
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24/7 peer support via text chat from trained listeners, available to individuals and through Medicare and Medicaid plans.
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Free anonymous peer-to-peer emotional support chat service staffed by certified peer specialists, operating evenings and weekdays in the Riverside County area.
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Anonymous peer-to-peer emotional support app with text or voice chats with trained listeners, first session free, then pay-as-you-go with no subscription required.
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Anonymous live audio peer support groups for narcissistic abuse and divorce with over 500 sessions weekly.
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Free national helpline and peer support groups for eating disorder recovery, run by licensed therapists.
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Free peer-support programs and a therapist directory for complex PTSD survivors, with daily chat groups, workshops, and trauma-informed yoga.
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National nonprofit peer-support organization for young adults with chronic conditions, offering free peer-support meetings and leadership programming.
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National nonprofit offering free, professionally-led peer support groups for chronic illness via video, including groups for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ people.
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Free one-on-one cancer peer support matching patients and caregivers with over 500 trained survivor volunteers nationwide.
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Nonprofit peer-support community for young women of color, founded 2017, with free online Chat Room, in-person events, and therapy scholarships.
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Free peer-led depression support groups online and in-person, founded in Philadelphia with online groups reaching all states.
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Online grief support community run by grief expert David Kessler, plus free courses for the bereaved.
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Free, volunteer-led online grief support with peer groups, chat, and state-by-state warmline directory available to anyone grieving.
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Free online peer support forum for people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders, with public and private categories.
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Nonprofit peer support and resources for family caregivers, including the Families, Addiction and Mental Health Network for caregivers of people with mental-health and substance-use disorders.
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Free nonprofit peer-support community for women with diabetes offering virtual meetups, webinars, and workshops.
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National nonprofit offering free peer wellness groups, a therapy referral directory, and crisis hotline listings for the Asian American community.
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Nonprofit providing free virtual peer support spaces (Kings Corner, Heal With Him) and 8 free individual therapy sessions with culturally competent therapists of color for Black men 18 and older.
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National network and directory of Latinx mental health providers, with healing circles, political education, and support for migrant rights organizers.
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International nonprofit running 3000 free peer-led addiction-recovery meetings using cognitive behavioral tools in 35 countries.
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Global peer-support meetings (online and in-person), handbooks, and training for addiction recovery grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy.
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National trans support and anti-violence organization since 1994 with provider directories and peer support groups in Wisconsin.
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Virtual addiction treatment combining medication, therapy, and peer support, available in 19 states.
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Free 24/7 Muslim-community helpline and online therapy with licensed providers across the US.
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BetterHelp's faith-based therapy platform matching users to licensed therapists via text, chat, phone, or video, open to individuals.
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Teletherapy in 42 states for Black and BIPOC clients, no wait list, evidence-based care with specialized trauma and couples work.
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Spanish/English online therapy platform with 60+ certified psychologists, initial session $25 USD, 24/7 availability, individual and couples sessions.
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Neurodiversity-affirming online therapy for autism, ADHD, anxiety and OCD, licensed across five states with evidence-based approaches tailored to neurodivergent brains.
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Directory of vetted Jewish and frum mental-health professionals across the US, from therapists to psychiatrists, dietitians and support groups.
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South Asian therapist directory with 46 hand-picked therapists, filterable by gender and price, with free consultations and online booking.
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Online therapy connecting Muslims with licensed Muslim therapists and psychologists for faith-aligned sessions, from $60 per 50-minute session.
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Ruh Care
NewOnline therapy by licensed Muslim therapists via phone and video, serving individuals, couples, children ages 3-17, and families with sliding-scale financial assistance.
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Faith-based virtual counseling platform with over 50 biblically grounded and clinically trained counselors using a book-a-session model.
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Christ-centered counseling available online in four states and in-person in Western Pennsylvania, with licensed counselors and flexible payment options.
Frequently asked questions
Can I find support for a specific health condition or life event?
Yes, many options specialize in certain areas like grief, postpartum mental health, or recovery from narcissistic relationships. You can also find large communities dedicated to specific diagnoses like depression, bipolar disorder, or general health conditions.
Are these services free or do they cost money?
Several organizations like NAMI, DBSA, and Narcotics Anonymous offer free peer-led support. Other services may provide free community features or volunteer listeners while charging for professional therapy or therapist-led classes.
Do I have to meet with people in person?
You aren't limited to in-person meetings. Most services listed offer online forums, text-based chat, or virtual audio groups that you can join from anywhere.
Will I be talking to a licensed professional?
It depends on the service you choose. Some options consist of peer-led groups or volunteer listeners, while others provide professionally facilitated sessions led by licensed counselors or therapists.