Find support with a community, learn from others’ experiences, share information and resources, and build your sense of community in a safe, confidential space. Peer-facilitated by Pleo Family Peer Supporters.

Rural Ottawa Parent Support Group for parents and caregivers of youth and young adults (ages 13-25) facing mental health or addiction challenges. Last Monday of the month. Location: Richmond

This free drop-in parent support group for parents and caregivers of youth and young adults (ages 13-25) facing mental health or addiction challenges, is held on the last Monday of the month from 6:30pm to 8pm at Willow Wellness (5944 Perth Street, Richmond). Peer-facilitated by two Pleo Family Peer Supporters. Offered by Pleo in partnership with Willow Wellness and Rural Ottawa Youth Mental Health Collective. Participants can drop-in as often as they like or need. Just drop-in to join.

Upcoming dates:
Monday January 26, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Monday February 23, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Monday March 30, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Monday April 27, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm

Renfrew County Parent Support Group for parents and caregivers of youth and young adults (ages 12-25) facing mental health or addiction challenges. First Tuesday of the month. Location: Renfrew

This free drop-in parent support group for parents and caregivers of youth and young adults (ages 12-25) facing mental health or addiction challenges, is held on the first Tuesday of the month from 6:30pm to 8pm at myFM Centre (1 Ma Te Way Park Drive, Renfrew) inside the YWHO Renfrew County room on the 2nd Floor*. Peer-facilitated by two Pleo Family Peer Supporters. Offered by Pleo in partnership with Renfrew County Youth Wellness Hub and Addictions Treatment Service (ATS). Participants can drop-in as often as they like or need. Just drop-in to join.

*Enter the myFM building through the rear parking lot doors and take the stairs to second floor.

Upcoming dates:
Tuesday January 6, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Tuesday February 3, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Tuesday March 3, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Tuesday April 7, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm

Manotick and Area Parent Support Group for parents and caregivers of children, youth, and young adults (ages 0-25) facing mental health or addiction challenges. Third Thursday of the month. Location: Manotick

This free drop-in parent support group for parents and caregivers of children, youth, and young adults (ages 0-25) facing mental health or addiction challenges, is held on the third Thursday of the month from 6:30pm to 8pm at Lume Club (1138 Tighe Street, Manotick). Peer-facilitated by two Pleo Family Peer Supporters. Offered by Pleo in partnership with Youth of Manotick Association (YOMA). Participants can drop-in as often as they like or need. Just drop-in to join.

Upcoming dates:
Thursday January 15, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Thursday February 19, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Thursday March 19, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Thursday April 16, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm

Find support, learn from others’ experiences, share information and resources, and build your sense of community in a safe, confidential space. Peer-facilitated by Pleo Family Peer Supporters. Virtual and held on Zoom. All virtual support groups are drop-in, with exception to Parents of Suicidal Youth Virtual Support Group (By registration only).

Drop-In Virtual Parent Support Group 0-12 for parents and caregivers of children and youth (ages 0-12) facing mental health or addiction challenges. 2nd Tuesday of the month. Location: Virtual (Zoom)

This free drop-in virtual parent support group for parents and caregivers of children and youth (ages 0-12) facing mental health or addiction challenges, is held on the 2nd Tuesday (bilingual) of the month from 6:30pm to 8pm on Zoom and peer-facilitated by Pleo Family Peer Supporters.

Join here : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85109801085

Drop-In Virtual Parent Support Group 13-25 for parents and caregivers of youth and young adults (ages 13-25) facing mental health or addiction challenges. Every Wednesday. Location: Virtual (Zoom)

This free drop-in virtual parent support group for parents and caregivers of youth and young adults (ages 13-25) facing mental health or addiction challenges, is held every Wednesday (4th Wednesday is bilingual) from 6:30pm to 8pm on Zoom and peer-facilitated by two Pleo Family Peer Supporters.

Join here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83150489909

Parents of Suicidal Youth Virtual Support Group for parents and caregivers of suicidal youth and young adults to age 25. Held on Wednesdays. Location: Virtual (Zoom) *By registration only

Find support with other parents and caregivers of suicidal youth and young adults in this free 8-week online peer-led support group, offered by Pleo and The Robbie Dean Family Counselling Centre.

This peer support group provides connection, tools, and support for parents and caregivers navigating the challenges of supporting suicidal youth and young adults. It offers a safe and supportive space to connect and share with others who understand, learn tools and strategies to support your youth and your own well-being, and find support within a caring community.

The next session starts on January 14 and runs for eight weeks, ending on March 4, 2026. Meetings take place every Wednesday on Zoom from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. An introductory evening will be held on December 10, at the same time, for those who have already registered. Registration is required, and we ask that parents and caregivers attend all dates in a session. This support group is for parents and caregivers supporting youth and young adults up to age 25 who are struggling with suicidality, including suicidal thoughts or attempts.

Over 8 weeks, this support group will provide:
• Information to increase your understanding of suicide and suicidal thinking in youth and young adults, including risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs, as well as the impact of mental health, substance use, and addictions on suicidality
• Guidance on crisis response and safety planning, including how to create and use a safety plan together with your child
• Tools and strategies for supporting your child’s mental well-being
• Strategies for fostering communication and trust with your child and creating a safe, non-judgmental space for open conversation
• Information on available resources and services in your community, including crisis supports
• Strategies for coping and self-care practices to support your own mental well-being, as a caregiver
• Opportunities to connect, share experiences, and find support with others who understand, in a safe and supportive space

Sessions are co-facilitated by a Pleo Family Peer Supporter and an Addictions Counsellor from The Robbie Dean Family Counselling Centre.

This support group is offered in partnership and collaboration with The Robbie Dean Family Counselling Centre.

Register here: https://pleo.on.ca/psy-support-group 

Parent/Caregiver Information Session for parents and caregivers of children and youth (ages 0-12) facing mental health or addiction challenges. Fourth Tuesday of the month. Location: Virtual (Zoom)

Join Pleo and Open Doors Mental Health (ODMH) on January 27, for an evening of learning and support.

This month’s information session will cover the subject of “Healing Intergenerational Patterns”, for parents and caregivers supporting children and youth (ages 0-12) facing mental health or addiction challenges.

Parenting can bring many meaningful moments, but it can also bring up patterns we didn’t even realize we were carrying. Sometimes these patterns come from our own upbringing and are passed down through generations — intergenerational patterns — and they can affect how we parent and how we support our kids. In this session, we’ll explore what intergenerational patterns are, how they can show up in daily life, and ways to break the cycle of these patterns without self-blame. We’ll share practical tools and strategies to help you heal intergenerational patterns, care for yourself while supporting your child’s mental well-being, and build new, healthier patterns.

Hosted by Pleo Family Peer Supporters and mental health clinicians from Open Doors Mental Health (ODMH), we’ll share information, practical tools, and strategies to help you navigate this topic.

This month’s information session will be held on Tuesday January 27, from 6:30pm–8:00pm on Zoom.

These free monthly sessions are designed to support you and your family. They provide information and insights on topics related to child and youth mental health and addictions, and parenting, along with practical tips and strategies to help you support your child or youth. You’ll also find information about available supports and resources in your community and have the opportunity to ask questions in a welcoming, safe space. Sessions are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month, with a new topic each month.

We look forward to welcoming you to this session, presented together with Open Doors Mental Health (ODMH).

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85109801085

Journaling as a Wellness Tool Virtual Group for parents and caregivers of children, youth, and young adults (ages 0-25) facing mental health or addiction challenges. Every Thursday. Location: Virtual (Zoom) *By registration only

Journaling as a Wellness Tool is a fun, interactive group where you can discover journaling as a tool for wellness and express yourself through journaling with a community of peers.

The next session runs every Thursday from January 15 to March 12, 2026 (9-week session) from 6:00–7:30pm on Zoom. Over 9 weeks, you’ll learn the benefits of journaling and explore how journaling can help support your well-being. You’ll be led through topics such as Making Connections, Emotional Vocabulary, Letter Writing and Lists, Gratitude and Intentions, Self-Esteem Journaling, Creative Journaling, and Evaluation. Tools needed: paper or journal, writing utensil, emailed handouts, an internet-connected device (computer, mobile, or tablet), and Zoom access.

This free virtual group is for parents and caregivers supporting children, youth, and young adults (ages 0-25) facing mental health or addiction challenges.

Co-facilitated by a Pleo Family Peer Supporter and Anita Manley, Peer Facilitator and co-founder of Journaling as a Wellness Tool in the Women’s Mental Health Program at The Royal, this group offers a welcoming space to explore journaling as a tool for wellness and self-expression.

No writing experience is needed. There will be opportunities for writing during each session, however sharing is optional. This session is limited to 12 spaces and registration is required.

Whether you’re new to journaling or a seasoned writer, this group is for you!

Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/Xm7we9Ta7x

SMART Recovery Family and Friends Drop-In Virtual Support Group, for family members and friends of loved ones struggling with addictions or addictive behaviours. Every Thursday. Location: Virtual (Zoom)

This free drop-in virtual peer support group meets every Thursday from 7:00pm–8:30pm on Zoom.  It offers a safe, supportive space where family members and friends (aged 18 or older) supporting a loved one struggling with addictions or addictive behaviours can connect, share information and resources, and find support with a community that understands.

Inspired by the SMART Recovery Family & Friends program, this group draws from compassionate, evidence-based approaches such as CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training), that aim to empower family members and friends with practical tools and strategies to encourage positive change in their loved one struggling with addiction or addictive behaviours, while prioritizing their own well-being. This group offers a safe space to explore practical tools and strategies that can help you: improve communication with your loved one, set healthy boundaries, cope more effectively, take care of your own emotional and physical well-being, and support your loved one to move towards recovery.

This support group is co-facilitated and offered in partnership and collaboration with Sandy Hill Community Health Centre.

Please note: the meeting on January 1, 2026 is cancelled, as the Pleo office will be closed on this day for the Holiday Season.

Join here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/293138126

Four-Week Clay Hand-Building Course, “Clay as Teacher: Listening, Shaping, Becoming” for parents and caregivers of children, youth, and young adults (ages 0-25) facing mental health or addiction challenges. Location: Ottawa *By registration only 

Looking for a creative way to support your mental well-being? Join us for our four-week clay hand-building course, “Clay as Teacher: Listening, Shaping, Becoming.” The course begins on January 14 and runs every Wednesday from 1:00pm–3:00pm at earthen vessels (36 Rosemount Avenue, Ottawa), ending on February 4.

Facilitated by earthen vessels and offered in partnership and collaboration with Pleo, this course provides a calm, welcoming space for creativity, reflection, and renewal. In this course, you can move at a gentler pace, let your imagination take shape, and find comfort in a shared, supportive environment. As you work with the clay, you’ll have space to pause, reflect, and connect with yourself and others. This course is for parents and caregivers supporting children, youth, and young adults (ages 0–25) facing mental health or addiction challenges.

Over the four weeks, we will explore the basics of hand-building with clay, focusing on creating functional bowls and mugs with our hands through techniques like pinching, coiling, and slab work. Throughout each class, Ginger McCoy, the course facilitator, will offer gentle and supportive guidance and encouragement. With a focus on the process rather than the finished piece, you’ll be encouraged to move at your own pace and enjoy the tactile experience of working with clay. After the four-week course has ended, as a final step, the finished pieces will be kiln-fired. Once cooled and fully set, you’ll have the opportunity to take home the pieces you’ve created to cherish.

No previous experience with clay is needed, and individuals of all experience levels are welcome. Materials and tools will be provided at each class. The course is limited to 8 participants, and registration is required. Cost: $225 plus tax per person for the four-week course.

Together, in this shared supportive space, we’ll gather to slow our pace and nurture ourselves and our well-being through working with clay.

Register here: https://ow.ly/iVNf50XwxWN

French SMART Recovery Family and Friends Drop-In Virtual Support Group, for family members and friends of loved ones struggling with addictions or addictive behaviours. Every other Monday. Location: Virtual (Zoom)

This free drop-in virtual peer support group, offered in French, meets every other Monday from 6:30pm–8:00pm on Zoom. It offers a safe, supportive space where family members and friends (aged 18 or older) supporting a loved one struggling with addictions or addictive behaviours can connect, share information and resources, and find support with a community that understands.

Inspired by the SMART Recovery Family & Friends program, this group draws from compassionate, evidence-based approaches such as CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training), that aim to empower family members and friends with practical tools and strategies to encourage positive change in their loved one struggling with addiction or addictive behaviours, while prioritizing their own well-being. This group offers a safe space to explore practical tools and strategies that can help you: improve communication with your loved one, set healthy boundaries, cope more effectively, take care of your own emotional and physical well-being, and support your loved one to move towards recovery.

For upcoming meeting dates for this group, please see our calendar of events. Click here to view the Pleo calendar.

This support group is co-facilitated and offered in partnership and collaboration with Le CAP, and is offered in French.

Join here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87601534643