Support Groups
AMI-Québec’s support groups provide a warm welcome to everyone. We are here for you!
We have support groups for:
Family and friends only: Family & Friends, Young Family & Friends, BPD for Families, South Shore
Those suffering from mental illness only: Kaleidoscope
Mixed groups for both: Anxiety/OCD, Bipolar, Depression, Hoarding
Looking for a safe and confidential place to vent, learn, and hear from people who understand what you’re going through? Support groups aim to help participants feel less alone and better understood so that they can improve how they cope with the effects of mental health challenges and mental illness on their daily lives. Facilitated by people who have experience, either as a family caregiver or having lived with mental illness, support groups offer an opportunity to develop a healthy perspective on mental illness, explore coping strategies, and learn about support services and resources in the community.
Like all our programs, our support groups are free!
Groups begin promptly at 6:30pm EST. We do not allow people into the groups after 6:45pm. Meetings end at 8pm.
If you have any questions, give us a call at 514-486-1448 during business hours (Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday 9am-4pm).
Please note that support groups are not set up to address crises. If you are experiencing a great or imminent concern for your well-being, consider contacting your therapist, treatment team, 811, or in case of immediate danger 911. You can find a list of crisis intervention organizations here and listening services here. A support group may not be the proper forum at such a time.
Support groups are taking place online by video conference
Join us on Google Meet by clicking on the appropriate group below.
Support Groups on Monday, October 2 at 6:30pm EST
Click on a button below to attend a group
Support Groups on Monday, October 16 at 6:30pm EST
Click on a button below to attend a group
Our Young Family & Friends support group is for you if you are aged 18-30 and have a loved one who struggles with their mental health.
Support Group on Monday, October 16, 6:30-8pm
South Shore Family & Friends
Our South Shore group has moved to Mondays and is being held in person only at 91 Churchill Blvd, Greenfield Park.
Open to family and friends–you do not need to live on the South Shore.
Support Groups on Monday, October 23 at 6:30pm EST
Click on a button below to attend a group
Kaleidoscope is for anyone living with any mental illness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What group should I go to?
For family, friends, and people living with mental illness:
- Anxiety / OCD
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- Hoarding
For family and friends only:
- Family & Friends
- Young Family & Friends (for 18-30 year olds)
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) for Families
- South Shore: Family & Friends (this group is held on the South Shore; you do not need to live on the South Shore)
For people living with mental illness only:
- Kaleidoscope
All mental illnesses are welcome at Family and Friends and at Kaleidoscope (including schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, hoarding, OCD, etc) and an official diagnosis is not necessary.
What time do they start?
Groups begin promptly at 6:30pm EST. We do not allow people into the groups after 6:45pm. Meetings end at 8pm.
Do I have to register in advance?
No! Just click on the button for your group (see the list above) shortly before 6:30pm.
What is it like at a support group?
Support groups do not have a set agenda or topic. The conversation comes from the people in the group. There will be an introduction with instructions and news. Online groups are similar to an in-person support group; you will be able to talk and listen and there will be a facilitator leading the conversation.
Groups are facilitated by volunteers (trained by AMI, not doctors) who have experience with mental illness in themselves or in a loved one. Because you do not have to register in advance, we never know how many people will be attending; it can be anywhere from a few people to 15 or more. Support groups are confidential. You do not have to give your real name, and you contribute to the conversation as much or as little as you’d like.
If possible, please be in a quiet place to minimize background noise.
What language are groups held in?
Support groups are predominantly conducted in English but discussion can be bilingual. Si vous cherchez de l’aide en français, contactez Avant de craquer 1-855-272-7837 ou Arborescence (autrefois connu sous le nom AQPAMM) 514-524-7131.
How old do you have to be to attend?
All groups are for adults only (18+). If you are looking for youth resources for yourself or a loved one, click HERE.
I‘m a social worker/psychologist/student. Can I observe a group?
If you are a professional (social worker, counsellor, doctor etc.) who would like to observe one of our support groups, please contact Marc by emailing program@amiquebec.org for approval. Thank you.
I’m nervous about joining a group. Can I just watch?
We encourage everyone to actively participate in groups. Please join us–you will see that we are welcoming and inclusive. We will ask you to introduce yourself (we need to be sure someone is there and not in need of technical help) but you can use a fake name. That said, you need only talk about what you are comfortable with sharing with the group. Everyone is given the opportunity to speak, as well as the right to be silent. We encourage you to have your camera on, but you may turn off your camera if you wish.
Are the support groups recorded?
We do not record our support groups.
Will you be going back to in-person support groups?
We have found a number of benefits to holding our support groups online, like people being able to attend who do not live near our physical location. While some of our programs (like our workshops) are being held both online and in-person, for now all our support groups (except for South Shore) are being held online. Our ultimate goal is a balance between in-person and online events so that we can best accommodate as many people as possible. Click HERE to sign up for monthly email updates for information.
Can I join a group by telephone?
PHONE USERS PLEASE NOTE: as a general rule, you can no longer call into our support groups. If you would like to request an exception, please call us: 514-486-1448.
We encourage you to join us by video because we share information and links in the chat that you cannot see by phone. We have also found that participants prefer to see each other face to face.
At the beginning of the pandemic, we held our support groups by phone for a few months. We switched to Google Meet for several reasons: Our feedback indicated that people wanted to see each other and had trouble figuring out who was speaking on the phone, especially in larger groups. Facilitators could no longer “see body language” of participants, making their roles more difficult. Also people with hearing issues had difficulty–there are captions in Google Meet. Google Meet is also free, compared to the telephone technology we used before.
I need help now...
If you or a loved one is in a crisis situation, click here for resources that can help.
If you or if someone you love is thinking or talking about suicide, and you are worried for your/their safety, call 911 or go to your local hospital, and click here for resources that can help.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call AMI at 514-486-1448 or email program@amiquebec.org.
August – December 2023
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