Support Groups
Our newest support group!
Queer Group: Our newest support group will provide a safe space specifically for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Here you can discuss how to navigate relationships with family, friends, partners and coworkers; how to broach mental health topics with chosen family and with partners; and the impact of stigma on our mental health and on caregiving experiences in the queer community. The group is open to 2SLGBTQIA+ people who either have their own mental health challenges or who care about someone who does.
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, BPD for Families, South Shore
Those suffering from mental illness only: Kaleidoscope
Mixed groups for both: Anxiety/OCD, Bipolar, Depression, Hoarding, Queer Group, Young Adults
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 take place online by video conference
Join us on Google Meet by clicking on the appropriate group below.
Support Groups on Monday, February 10 at 6:30pm EST
Click on a button below to attend a group
Support Group on Monday, February 10, 6:30-8pm
South Shore Family & Friends
Our South Shore group is 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, February 17 at 6:30pm EST
Click on a button below to attend a group
Our Young Adults support group is for anyone aged 18-30 who is struggling with their mental health or who cares about someone who is.
Support Groups on Monday, February 24 at 6:30pm EST
Click on a button below to attend a group
Kaleidoscope is for anyone living with any mental illness.
Queer Group is for 2SLGBTQIA+ people who either have their own mental health challenges, or who care about someone who does.
Frequently Asked Questions
What group should I go to?
For family, friends, and people living with mental illness:
- Anxiety / OCD
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- Hoarding
- Queer Group (For the 2SLGBTQIA+ community)
- Young Adults (18-30 year olds)
For family and friends only:
- Family & Friends
- 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, Queer Group, Young Adults, 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.
Queer Group FAQ
WHO CAN ATTEND?
The group is open to 2SLGBTQIA+ people who either have a loved one with a mental health condition or who have their own mental health challenges.
WHY IS IT CALLED “QUEER”?
Our group was organized by LGBTQ volunteers and staff at AMI-Quebec and they chose the term because that’s how they identify.
THAT’S OFFENSIVE
You’re right, it used to be a derogatory term. But the word “queer” has been reclaimed by the community, and we use it in an affirming way, because our LGBTQ staff and volunteers chose to name it that.
WHY START THIS GROUP? WHY NOT SOMETHING ELSE?
- This was the most-requested group in our surveys and input for the last 4 years.
- We did research to check what was available and what was lacking
- We had the infrastructure: a ton of volunteers who are members of the community, and they wanted there to be a group
WHY WOULD AMI HAVE THIS?
Because mental health matters! It is very common for community members to support one another through mental health struggles, and being gay or trans often has an impact on the experience of caregiving, so we are providing a dedicated safe space.
WILL THIS GROUP BE LED BY MEMBERS OF THE QUEER COMMUNITY?
Yes. All of AMI’s support groups are led by volunteers with lived experience. AMI has many experienced facilitators who are members of the community, who will be leading Queer Group.
I’M NOT SURE IF I AM GAY/TRANS/(etc)… CAN I ATTEND?
The queer umbrella includes questioning. Anyone on a spectrum of gender diversity or sexual orientation or exploring those things is welcome to attend.
MY KID IS GAY, WHY CAN’T I ATTEND?
The group is for the queer community only. If you’re looking for guidance because a loved one is gay, or for yourself, visit amiquebec.org/LGBTQ.
WHERE CAN I FIND HELP?
AMI’s LGBTQ+ resource list: amiquebec.org/LGBTQ
West Island LGBTQ2+ Centre: 514-794-5428 or lgbtq2centre.com
QUESTIONS? CONCERNS?
Email Marc: program@amiquebec.org
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 CAP santé mentale (autrefois connu sous le nom 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.
Do you have to be in Montreal to attend?
Nope! Our online groups are accessible anywhere in the world.
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.
I have feedback. Where can I send it?
Feedback helps us improve our support groups–it helps us know what we are doing well and what could use a little work!
Please click here to complete our survey, or send feedback to program@amiquebec.org.
Thanks!
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.
December 2024 – March 2025
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