DBSA Heart of Chicago Chapter is currently offering three support groups:
General Peer Support Group
LGBTQ+ Peer Support Group
Friends and Family Support Group
Our atmosphere is open-minded, friendly, and non-judgmental. All information discussed is confidential and meetings are led by peers (other people who are recovering from an illness).
All adults (18 and older) are welcome at our support groups. However, to protect privacy and enable people to speak freely, we do not allow casual observers, clinicians, or students to attend our meetings.
We are currently holding hybrid meetings for the peer support groups (Thursdays and Saturdays), which means there is an option to join the meeting in person, virtually through Google Meet, or through the phone. In-person, virtual and phone participants are combined in the same meeting. We kindly request that anyone joining a meeting in person is fully vaccinated and has not had symptoms, a positive test, or an exposure to COVID-19 within the last 10 days.
The Friends and Family Group held on Tuesdays is currently only meeting virtually, not in person.
Information about meeting in person is below. For links to join virtually or with any additional questions, please email dbsaboard@dbsaheartofchicago.org.
Every Thursday
6:00pm CST– 7:30pm CST
Chicago Loop Location:
77 W Washington St. (Temple Building), Suite 420, Chicago
(see map above)
This group is for adults (18+) living with mood disorders. Adults of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and religious and cultural backgrounds are welcome.
Every Saturday
11:00am CST– 12:30pm CST
Chicago Northside Location:
Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted St, Chicago (see map above)
This group is for adults (18+) living with a mood disorder and is particularly focused on LGBTQ+ issues and support. Adults of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and religious and cultural backgrounds are welcome. Friends and family are also welcome to join this group.
Every Tuesday
6:00pm CST– 7:30pm CST
Currently meeting online only! Please email Patrick at patob88@gmail.com for link to join.
This group is for anyone supporting a loved one living with a mood disorder. People of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and religious and cultural backgrounds are welcome.
The Saturday LGBTQIA+ support group is a good fit for those who identify as LGBTQIA+ and their allies, who have personal lived experience with depression and/or bipolar disorder. Friends, partners and family members are also encouraged to attend.
The Thursday Peer Support group is a good fit for anyone who has personal, lived experience with depression and/or bipolar disorder.
The Tuesday Friends and Family Support group is for family and friends who are supporting loved ones living with depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders.
A peer facilitator is an individual with lived recovery experience who has been trained to help their peers move forward in their own recovery. They are not therapists, medical professionals, or certified to give any medical advice.
Not at all. After our basic introductions, it's completely up to you whether you want to bring up topics or provide feedback to others. If you're new, you might want to hang back a bit and see what it's all about. Or maybe not -- maybe you want to eagerly jump in. It's your call. One of our principles, read at the beginning of each meeting, is that YOU are the one who decides how much to say and what to share.
No, the groups are offered at no cost. They are free, drop-in groups. No referral or advance notice is required.
There is no requirement or obligation to attend any certain number of sessions. We suggest newcomers visit at least three times to determine if the group is a good fit. Groups vary widely depending on how many people attend, who is facilitating, etc.