Support Groups

DISCLAIMER: Our groups are peer-run and should not be treated as a substitute for psychiatric or other professional mental health care.

This information is current as of 14 March 2020. This is your confirmation that the group is still running.

As of Monday, March 16, 2020, we will be moving our meetings to an online forum via Zoom for the foreseeable future.

You will be required to send your email address to me, joelsax47@gmail.com, by fifteen minutes before the meeting so I can send an invitation to you with a url and a password. You may send your request up to 24 hours in advance.

Meetings will start at 7:05 pm.

All support groups are free and open on a drop-in basis. Donations are optional.

Currently we have three support groups and a reading discussion group:

    • One for patients suffering from bipolar disorder, depression, and schizoaffective disorder meets on Monday nights at 7 PM at 23121 Plaza Pointe Dr, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. Family members are welcome.
    • Another for patients and family members meets on Friday nights at 7 PM at Orange County Friends Meeting, 2091 Business Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92612. There is a playroom available for families with children. This group is especially friendly to couples and young adults.
  • Our caregivers group meets once a month at the Belltower, Second Thursdays at 6:30 PM at the Bell Tower, 22232 El Paseo Community Room 1, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 926692 or more information, call Paula Dufault at 949-842-3523.

There is no charge for participation. There is no need to call in advance.

We have no dual diagnosis group (mood disorder+addiction/alcoholism) at this time. We urge those struggling with active addictions to contact the Orange County Chapter (714-744-8718) for information on their Thursday dual diagnosis support group in Orange or one of the local 12 Steps groups. Those who boast of their misuse of alcohol or addictive drugs will be asked to leave and seek help at one of these other support groups.

Clean and sober addicts and alcoholics are welcome.

For more information call 949-635-9211 or write dbsasoc@alsirat.com.

For information about other Orange County DBSA support groups, call the Bipolar Resource Center at 714-744-8718. Tell them you heard about them from us.