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 peer 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 July 27, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Monday August 31, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Monday September 28, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Monday October 26, 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 peer 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*. Co-facilitated by Pleo and the Renfrew County Youth Wellness Hub. Offered by Pleo in partnership with the 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 July 7, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Tuesday August 4, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Tuesday September 1, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Tuesday October 6, 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 peer 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 1139C Mill 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 July 16, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Thursday August 20, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Thursday September 17, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Thursday October 15, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm

Caregiver Support Group for parents and caregivers of youth and young adults (ages 16-25) navigating mental health challenges. First Thursday of each month. Location: Ottawa

This free peer support group for parents and caregivers of youth and young adults (ages 16-25) navigating mental health challenges, is held on the first Thursday of each month from 6:30pm to 8pm at The Royal (1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa). Peer-facilitated by a Pleo Family Peer Supporter and a Social Worker from The Royal. Offered by Pleo in partnership with The Royal. Registration is required.

Upcoming dates:
Thursday July 2, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Thursday August 6, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Thursday September 3, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm
Thursday October 1, 2026, 6:30pm-8pm

Register here: https://ow.ly/87P550XZz3h

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 13-25 for parents and caregivers of youth and young adults (ages 13-25) facing mental health or addiction challenges. Held on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Location: Virtual (Zoom)

This free drop-in virtual peer support group for parents and caregivers of youth and young adults (ages 13-25) facing mental health or addiction challenges, is held on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 6:30pm to 8:00pm on Zoom and peer-facilitated by two Pleo Family Peer Supporters.

There will be no group on Wednesday, July 1 as the Pleo office is closed on this day for Canada Day.

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

Caregiver Neurodevelopmental Drop-In Virtual Support Group for parents and caregivers of children or youth (ages 0-18) navigating neurodevelopmental challenges or neurodivergence. Held on the last Thursday of each month. Location: Virtual (Zoom)

This free drop-in virtual peer support group for parents and caregivers of children and youth (ages 0-18) navigating neurodevelopmental challenges or neurodivergence, is held on the last Thursday of each month from 6:30pm to 8:00pm on Zoom and peer-facilitated by two Pleo Family Peer Supporters.

This support group is offered in collaboration with CHEO Neurodevelopmental Health (NDH).

Join here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82156923203

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.

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 collaboration with The Robbie Dean Family Counselling Centre.

New dates and registration for the upcoming fall session will be posted when available.

Registration for this session is now closed. 

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, in a welcoming space.

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!

Registration for this session is now closed. 

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.

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

Virtual Parent and Caregiver Information Night for parents and caregivers of children and youth (ages 0-12) facing mental health or addiction challenges. Location: Virtual (Zoom)

Pleo and Open Doors Mental Health (ODMH) have paused our Parent and Caregiver Information Nights for the summer. Sessions will resume in the fall. Stay tuned as we will be sharing more information at that time.

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. Second Monday of each month. Location: Virtual (Zoom)

This free drop-in virtual peer support group, offered in French, meets on the second Monday of each month 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.

This support group is facilitated and offered by Pleo, and is offered in French.

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