The most widely available free support groups in Denver are NAMI's peer-led Connection and Family Support groups, with specialized options for mood disorders (DBSA Denver), addiction and families affected by it (SMART Recovery, AA, Al-Anon), LGBTQ+ adults (The Center on Colfax), new parents (the Colorado chapter of Postpartum Support International) and grief (Judi's House, HEARTBEAT and HeartLight Center).
Peer support groups are run by people with lived experience, not clinicians, and they are not a substitute for treatment. Many people use them alongside therapy. We checked every group below on its own website in September 2026 and list only what those sites say. Meeting times change often, so confirm with the organization before you go. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
1. NAMI Denver
NAMI Denver runs two peer-led groups. NAMI Connection is for people with mental health conditions; its site says you gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of others, and that groups are led by trained leaders who have been there. NAMI Family Support Group is for family members, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions.
Current meeting times are posted on NAMI Denver's online calendar rather than on the group pages, so start there.
- Format: peer-led; trained facilitators with lived experience
- Schedule: namidenver.org/calendar
2. NAMI Colorado statewide virtual Connection groups
If a Denver meeting does not fit your schedule, NAMI Colorado runs statewide Connection Recovery Support Groups on Zoom. Its site lists sessions Monday through Thursday from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. and says Connection groups are free to NAMI members and non-members alike. NAMI Colorado also lists Family Support Groups and education classes such as Family-to-Family and Peer-to-Peer.
- Cost: free
- Access: email NAMI Colorado for Zoom links (listed on its site)
Visit NAMI Colorado statewide virtual Connection groups (opens in a new tab)
3. DBSA Denver (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)
DBSA Denver describes itself as a peer-led, non-denominational, faith-based support group for adults 18 and older dealing with bipolar disorder or depression, with a short prayer before and after meetings. It welcomes friends and family members. Its site says it meets on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time on Zoom.
Two conditions are stated on its site: participants should not be actively suicidal, and should be taking medications as their doctor prescribed. Members sign a confidentiality agreement. Email the group to receive the meeting link.
- Contact: dbsa.denver2@gmail.com
- Ages: 18 and older
Visit DBSA Denver (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) (opens in a new tab)
4. SMART Recovery
SMART Recovery describes itself as an evidence-informed approach to overcoming addictive behaviors. Its meetings are free and led by trained facilitators, and its 4-Point Program focuses on building skills rather than labels. It also runs separate Family and Friends meetings for loved ones.
Use the meeting finder on its site to see current in-person and online options near Denver.
- Cost: free
- Also for families: Family and Friends meetings and handbook
5. Alcoholics Anonymous (Denver Area Central Committee)
The Denver Area Central Committee keeps the local AA meeting directory, which includes virtual, in-person, phone and hybrid meetings. Its 24-hour hotline, 303-322-4440, can point you to a meeting at any hour.
- 24-hour hotline: 303-322-4440
- Formats: in person, virtual, phone and hybrid
Visit Alcoholics Anonymous (Denver Area Central Committee) (opens in a new tab)
6. Al-Anon and Alateen (Denver Area Service Center)
Al-Anon is, in its own words, a program of mutual help for people whose lives have been affected by someone else's drinking. Alateen is its program for adolescents. The Denver Area Service Center keeps the local meeting list and runs a helpline.
- Denver Metro Al-Anon helpline: 303-321-8788 (weekday and Saturday hours listed on its site)
Visit Al-Anon and Alateen (Denver Area Service Center) (opens in a new tab)
7. The Center on Colfax (Glass Lawler Mental Health)
The Center on Colfax describes itself as a safe and welcoming place for Colorado's LGBTQ community. Its Glass Lawler Mental Health program hosts free monthly peer support groups that are open to drop-ins, including a Bisexual Peer Support Group, a BIPOC Peer Support Group and an online Soul Enlightenment Circle focused on religious trauma. You do not need to be a clinical client to attend.
The same program lists up to 12 free individual counseling sessions for LGBTQ+ adults with mild to moderate concerns, with no referral or insurance required. The Center also runs programs for youth, young adults, older adults and transgender community members.
- Cost: free
- Phone: 303-733-7743
Visit The Center on Colfax (Glass Lawler Mental Health) (opens in a new tab)
8. Colorado Perinatal Mental Health Project (Colorado Chapter of Postpartum Support International)
Postpartum Support International's Colorado page directs families to its Colorado chapter, which runs as the Colorado Perinatal Mental Health Project, also known as The Birth Squad. Its site lists prenatal classes, a postpartum support series and monthly community meetups. It says babies are welcome at all groups, and that it offers childcare and interpretation for in-person gatherings on request.
PSI also runs a national HelpLine and online support groups for anyone who cannot make an in-person meeting.
- Contact: hello@copmhp.org or schedule a welcome call on its site
- PSI HelpLine (English and Spanish): 1-800-944-4773
9. Judi's House
Judi's House provides grief care to children and families at no cost. Its site describes two group programs: Pathfinders, a 10-session program that uses art, play and activities, and Connections, a 5-session group for ongoing support afterward. Groups pair people with peers of a similar age and similar death experience, with separate tracks for children and adults.
It serves youth ages 3 to 25 and their families. New families start with an assessment, and the site notes a two-month wait after a death before that assessment. Unlike most entries here, these groups are part of a clinical program, so each family member works with a Judi's House clinician.
- Cost: free
- Phone: 720.941.0331
10. HEARTBEAT Survivors After Suicide
HEARTBEAT is a Colorado peer support organization for people bereaved by suicide; its site says all participants are survivors. Its Denver/Lakewood/Littleton chapter lists meetings on the second Thursday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. at 2750 S Wadsworth Ave, and its Aurora and Wheat Ridge chapter lists Zoom meetings on the first and last Tuesday of each month.
HEARTBEAT notes it is not a substitute for professional mental health care. Contact the chapter facilitators listed on its site before your first meeting to confirm the current schedule.
- Format: peer-led, in person and on Zoom
Visit HEARTBEAT Survivors After Suicide (opens in a new tab)
11. HeartLight Center
HeartLight Center offers grief support for any type of loss. Its site describes open, drop-in groups where people with similar losses meet, and closed weekly series that follow a set curriculum, including its program Facing the Mourning. It lists in-person programs in Colorado and virtual support nationwide.
- Formats: drop-in groups and closed weekly series
- Check its events calendar for current Denver-area groups and any fees
How we chose these groups
We looked for groups that meet in or near Denver (or online for Coloradans), are free or low cost, are run by an established organization, and showed current activity on their own website in 2026. For general Denver mental health resources, including Medicaid and sliding-scale clinics, see our Denver mental health resources page.
Peer support groups vs. group therapy
A peer support group is led by volunteers who have been through something similar. It offers connection, hope and practical tips, and you can usually drop in without a commitment. Group therapy is led by licensed clinicians, follows a treatment plan, and usually costs money and requires an intake. Both can help, and they serve different purposes. If you are unsure which you need, our guide to finding the right therapist in Denver walks through the questions to ask.
Not a support group, but worth knowing: Second Wind Fund
Families sometimes look for youth suicide-loss or suicide-prevention groups and find Second Wind Fund. It is not a support group. Its site says it connects Colorado youth at risk for suicide with mental health treatment, and can cover up to 12 sessions of cost-free therapy for those who qualify. Parents, guardians or youth-serving professionals submit a referral online. Second Wind Fund states it is not a crisis service; in a crisis, call or text 988.
Mountainside's own therapy groups (clinician-led, not peer support)
Mountainside Behavioral Health is a private outpatient practice, and the groups below are paid therapy groups, not free peer support. We mention them separately because readers often ask. Both are DBT skills groups facilitated by Dr. Emily Biggs-Heisler and Anabelle Brecker, LCSW.
Details, including current fees, are on our DBT groups in Denver page.
- Adult DBT Skills Group: two hours weekly on Tuesdays, a six-month to one-year commitment.
- Teen Multi-Family DBT Skills Group: two hours weekly on Mondays, spanning 24 weeks, for ages 12 to 18 with a parent or caregiver.
Frequently asked questions
Are there free mental health support groups in Denver?
Yes. NAMI Denver and NAMI Colorado run free peer-led groups for people with mental health conditions and their families, and The Center on Colfax lists free drop-in peer groups for LGBTQ+ adults. Check each organization's calendar for current times.
Is there a support group in Denver for depression or bipolar disorder?
DBSA Denver, a faith-based peer group, lists Zoom meetings on the first and third Mondays of each month for adults 18 and older. NAMI Connection groups are also open to people with depression or bipolar disorder.
Where can families of someone struggling with addiction find support in Denver?
Al-Anon and Alateen meetings are listed by the Denver Area Service Center, and SMART Recovery runs free Family and Friends meetings in person and online.
Is a support group the same as group therapy?
No. Support groups are led by peers and are usually free and drop-in; group therapy is led by licensed clinicians as part of treatment. Many people benefit from using both.
Related reading
- Denver Mental Health Resources
- DBT Groups in Denver
- How to Find the Right Therapist in Denver
- Depression Treatment in Denver
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Denver
Talk to someone
Mountainside Behavioral Health offers DBT and CBT for adolescents, adults, couples and families in Greenwood Village and by telehealth across Colorado. Consultations are free, and we will tell you if another provider is a better fit. Call (720) 762-4619 or request a consultation.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line (free, confidential, 24/7). If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Sources (13)
- NAMI Denver — support groups
- NAMI Colorado — Connection groups
- DBSA Denver
- SMART Recovery
- Denver Area Central Committee of Alcoholics Anonymous
- Al-Anon Denver Area Service Center
- The Center on Colfax — Glass Lawler Mental Health
- Postpartum Support International — Colorado
- Colorado Perinatal Mental Health Project
- Judi's House — grief support services
- HEARTBEAT Survivors After Suicide
- HeartLight Center
- Second Wind Fund