Resources Mental health and support groups
Support groups
A support group is a regular meeting of people with similar experiences, where you can talk about yourself and listen to others. There are groups for immigrants, for people with mental health problems, and for people who have lost someone.
A group can go alongside therapy or help while you wait for an appointment.
Schedules and sign-up rules change; information as of November 2026.
Start here
- QARAVAN has an online peer support group in Russian for LGBTQ+ immigrants that meets every week. To join, fill in a short form.
- Other groups: The LGBTQ+ Center (Thursdays 6–7:30 pm), Brooklyn Community Pride Center (Mondays 6–8 pm) and free NAMI-NYC groups, mostly on Zoom.
- If a group isn't right for you, that's fine: try another.
Decide which group you need
For LGBTQ+ immigrants: QARAVAN's groups and LGBTQ+ Immigrants United at The LGBTQ+ Center. For trans and nonbinary people and people who are grieving: groups at The LGBTQ+ Center. For people with mental health problems and their families: NAMI-NYC (the New York chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness). For people who lost someone to suicide: Samaritans groups. The groups at The LGBTQ+ Center and Brooklyn Community Pride Center are community support, not therapy.
Check the language of the meeting
QARAVAN's groups are in Russian; The LGBTQ+ Center's are in English and Spanish.
Register if you need to
QARAVAN: a short form on our website; the meeting link comes after you register. The LGBTQ+ Center: a short registration before the first meeting; it opens before the fall and spring cycles, space permitting. Brooklyn Community Pride Center: at least an hour before the start. NAMI-NYC: no sign-up needed.
Check your connection in advance
For Zoom you need a phone or computer with internet. Join early and check your sound.
Share as much as you want
You decide what to share. You can just listen.
Support groups: language, format, time and registration
| QARAVAN group | LGBTQ+ Immigrants United (The LGBTQ+ Center) | Group at Brooklyn Community Pride Center | NAMI-NYC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Russian | English | — | — |
| Format | Online | At the center; online in the third week of the month | Zoom | Mostly Zoom |
| When | Weekly at 7:30 pm, alternating Wednesdays and Thursdays | Thursdays 6–7:30 pm | Mondays 6–8 pm | Schedule at naminycmetro.org |
| Registration | Yes, a short form on the QARAVAN website; the link comes after you register | Yes, a short registration in advance | Yes, at least one hour before the start | No advance registration |
QARAVAN Peer Support Group
Any status
An online group for LGBTQ+ immigrants, weekly at 7:30 pm, alternating Wednesdays and Thursdays. People talk about life here as it is: waiting for documents, looking for work and housing, family far away, loneliness in a big city. To join, fill in a short form; the link comes after you register. The group does not replace a therapist.
QARAVAN: Health and Mental Health Support
Any status
The QARAVAN program that includes the Peer Support Group and the online meetings "Case support: practical help" (forms, appointments, benefits, housing, work and where to turn next). Here you can talk freely about the language barrier, cultural differences and the immigration system.
Groups at The LGBTQ+ Center
Any status
Groups for LGBTQ+ people 18 and older, led by members, in English and Spanish; community support, not therapy. LGBTQ+ Immigrants United for immigrants: Thursdays 6–7:30 pm, online in the third week of the month. There are groups for trans and nonbinary people and for people who are grieving (Good Grief). No insurance needed; fill in a short online registration form on the center's website before the first meeting.
Group at Brooklyn Community Pride Center
Any status
A Zoom group for LGBTQ+ people 18 and older, led by the center's staff ("LGBTQ+ Mental Health Support Group"); the center says it is not intensive therapy. Register on the center's website (Sign up here on the meeting page) at least an hour before. Meetings are on Mondays from November 2, 2026.
NAMI-NYC
Any statusFree
Free groups led by people with similar experience: for adults who have had symptoms of a mental illness and for their families, mostly on Zoom. No sign-up needed; there is an online LGBTQ+ group. You can also join Zoom by phone. Questions about the groups: helpline@naminyc.org.
Samaritans: Suicide Loss Support
Any status
Groups for people who lost someone to suicide: you are with people who understand how you feel. There is also the "Wellness Line", for talking before a crisis: you can book a short check-in.
Clubhouses
Any statusFree
Free clubhouses for people with experience of mental health problems or addiction: support from members and staff, job training, education, social life. Find one in the NYC 988 directory (search "Clubhouse").
- Peer-led support group
- A group led by people with similar experience, not by doctors.
- Zoom
- An app for video meetings online, from a phone or computer.
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
- A national organization for people with mental illness and their families; NAMI-NYC is its New York chapter.
- Samaritans
- A New York suicide prevention organization: a crisis line and groups for people who have lost someone.
- Good Grief
- Groups at The LGBTQ+ Center for people who are grieving.
- LGBTQ+
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other people.
- Clubhouse
- A place where people with experience of mental health problems or addiction support each other, learn and work alongside staff.
This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.