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Online Support Groups Near Chicago

Whether you are on the North Side, the South Side, the West Side, in Naperville, Evanston or somewhere else in Chicagoland, ShareWell has live online support groups you can reach from wherever you call home. Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, and winter, distance and traffic can keep those neighborhoods far apart.

Every group meets online by live video, so you can join from home.

Join a Free GroupHow It Works

These online groups start during the day and evening in Central time, so they fit a day near Chicago.

Featured Today

You have the strength to empower poetry group
in 9 hours
NEW
megan21

You have the strength to empower poetry group

Tue, Sep 29 | 11:00AM - 12:00PM UTC
Poetry and writing as an outlet has brought me peace. I’d like to share that with others. A group where people can share their poetry, a favorite poem, etc or just listen in. Group rules: 1. Bullying is prohibited, this group was created to give and get support. 2. Respect for others, disrespect and verbal abuse will not be tolerated. 3. No one person should monopolize group time.
RESERVE NOW

Upcoming Groups

Healing Trauma through Holistic Wellness
larissadooley19

larissadooley19

Coach
Healing Trauma through Holistic Wellness

Healing trauma with holistic tools

Healing
Self-love
Trauma recovery
Open
Today 4:00 PM • 60 min
Finding Tranquility After Trauma
Deirdre_CPS

Deirdre_CPS

Finding Tranquility After Trauma

A tranquil space for healing together.

Goal-setting
Trauma
Trauma recovery
8/20
Today 6:00 PM • 60 min
Optical Art - Creating Art with Optical Illusions
CorrieMichele

CorrieMichele

Optical Art - Creating Art with Optical Illusions

Peers looking to unwind and get creative!

Personal development
Self-care
Stress management
2/16
Today 7:00 PM • 90 min
Where is my Joy?
Belladonna

Belladonna

Where is my Joy?

Finding tiny sparks of joy through depression.

Depression
Feeling stuck
Lack of motivation
7/16
Today 7:00 PM • 60 min
Local life

Close on the map and hard to reach

People here identify with their neighborhood first, and a friend who lives across town can feel as distant as one in another city. Chicago drivers lose more time to traffic than drivers almost anywhere in the country, and in winter the sun is down by five and the wind off the lake makes staying in the sensible choice. Families that held blocks together for generations have seen neighbors move away, and homeowners have faced tax bills that jump without warning. How much support is nearby depends a great deal on which neighborhood you live in.

Why it helps

How peer support helps near Chicago

An online group is the same distance from every neighborhood. It gives you a regular hour with people who understand, on the nights when the weather or the Kennedy would have kept you home anyway.

Inside the room

What members near Chicago talk about

  • Feeling cut off from friends who live across the city
  • Low mood in the months of early sunsets and cold
  • Watching longtime neighbors and family move away
  • Worry about the rising cost of staying in your home
Good fit for

Who these groups may help

  • People whose neighborhood has few support options close by
  • Anyone who stops going out once winter sets in
  • Commuters who get home with no time to spare
  • Longtime residents who miss the community they had
Find your group

Support group topics for people near Chicago

Every topic has its own page with live groups, so you can start with the one closest to what you are carrying.

D
Depression
Explore groups
A
Anxiety
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G
Grief
Explore groups
L
Loneliness
Explore groups
T
Trauma recovery
Explore groups
S
Stress management
Explore groups
A
Addiction
Explore groups
R
Relationship struggles
Explore groups
Join from anywhere nearby

Areas around Chicago

Every group meets online, so you can join from home anywhere around Chicago.

  • Naperville
  • Aurora
  • Joliet
  • Evanston
  • Oak Park
  • Cook County
  • DuPage County
  • Lake County
  • The North Shore
  • Northwest Indiana
Local help lines

Crisis and help lines near Chicago

ShareWell groups are peer support and are not crisis or emergency services. If you or someone near you is in danger, call 911, or call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any hour.

  • NAMI Chicago Helpline
    833-626-4244

    Chicago and suburban Cook County, call or text, Monday through Friday 9am to 8pm, weekends 9am to 5pm

    Official site
  • 211 Metro Chicago
    211

    Cook County, 24 hours a day

    Official site
  • DuPage County Crisis Line
    630-627-1700

    DuPage County, 24 hours a day, every day

    Official site
Other cities

Support groups in other cities

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to live in Chicago to join?

No. Groups are online, so you can join from any Chicago neighborhood, Naperville, Aurora, Joliet, Evanston, Oak Park, DuPage County, Lake County, Northwest Indiana or anywhere else.

There is nothing like this in my neighborhood. Can I still join?

Yes. Every group is held by video, so it does not matter what is available near you. All you need is a phone or computer and an internet connection.

Are there groups in the evening?

Yes. Groups run throughout the day and evening, so you can join after work without another trip across town.

What kinds of groups can I join?

You can join groups on grief, depression, anxiety, loneliness, addiction, trauma recovery and many more topics. Each topic has its own page where you can see the groups coming up.

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