NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a community organization. They foster education, advocacy as well as support for both people with a diagnosis of a MI and family & friends. It also has a database to find available support groups by state. If you can find one near you, awesome, if not there may be groups available run by other orgs. I would call a local crisis line for more info, perhaps they could help.
As a peer, someone with a MI diagnosis, I attend NAMI Connections most weeks. I like to go because everyone there understands. It's run by trained peers, not by doctors or therapists. It's a safe, gentle, respectful chance to check-in with people every week. Even in a deep depression, I try to get there because if I do, then at least I did one thing that week, it cuts down on the isolation a bit, and it's good for me to hear other people stories & how they're doing.
Here's why I love my group. I hope all of you can find a support group (whether NAMI or not) that you can benefit from.
NAMI'S Principles of Support
We will see the individual first, not the illness.
We recognize that mental illnesses are medical illnesses that may have environmental triggers.
We understand that mental illnesses are traumatic events.
We aim for better coping skills.
We find strength in sharing experiences.
We reject stigma and do not tolerate discrimination.
We won't judge anyone's pain as less than our own.