Be Connected
How do you take care of your mental health?
We provide live online peer support groups for you if you experience anxiety and depression frequently or occasionally. We serve everyone who wants support, diagnosed or not, and we also serve family & friends.
Convenient. Private. Accessible.
See the schedule by clicking on the button.
There are Five Pillars to Recovery- Reduce Isolation, Make Connections, Use Structure, Get Support & Have Hope. Read more
Sign Up For Your Free Five Pillars Tracking Sheet, where you can easily track your progress in each of these areas.
The problem: by the numbers
Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.8 million—experiences mental illness in a given year.
6.9% of adults in the U.S.—16 million—had at least one major depressive episode in the past year.
Among the 20.2 million adults in the U.S. who experienced a substance use disorder,50.5%—10.2 million adults—had a co-occurring mental illness.
Only 41% of adults in the U.S. with a mental health condition received mental health services in the past year.
Serious mental illness costs America $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year.
Mood disorders, including major depression, dysthymic disorder and bipolar disorder, are the third most common cause of hospitalization in the U.S. for both youth and adults aged 18–44.
African Americans and Hispanic Americans each use mental health services at about one-half the rate of Caucasian Americans and Asian Americans at about one-third the rate.
OUR SERVICES
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Our peer-led groups support people with anxiety and depression. We also have separate support groups for family and friends.
We’re providing peer support, so you’re not alone in the journey. Are you looking for answers?
You may be working or going to school, and around people, and feeling isolated and anxious. You don’t want to talk about your feelings for any number of reasons – you fear for your job, you think people will see you negatively if they really knew what was going on in your head, and/or you are a pro at hiding.
If you do talk to your friends or family, you may feel they have good intentions, but they don’t really understand. You’ve tried yoga, meditation, exercise and you still have symptoms. Your therapist might tell you to join a group for additional support.
We know the medical model. Go see your doctor. You may have a psychiatrist and a therapist. What if you need more than 1 hour of support a week?
We support each other in a confidential, safe and supportive setting.
At Be Connected support group meetings, people share experiences, personal feelings, information and strategies for living successfully with anxiety and depression. Groups are led by someone who lives with a anxiety and/or depression and is trained to facilitate.
Peer support groups are not meant to replace mental health professionals, rather they are meant to supplement and support you on your recovery journey.
OUR MISSION
Supporting everyone with mental health challenges live the life they want through peer support.
Destigmatizing mental illness.
How it Works
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HOW IT WORKS – it’s as easy as 1 – 2 – 3
1. Register for the free trial or sign up as a member
2. Choose a time that’s convenient for you from the calendar and sign up for a group.
3. Create an account. If it’s your first time, click the “sign up” button on the bottom of the screen. Your first group is free, then you sign up as a member or pay per group.
The technical stuff:
– Join at least 10 minutes before the group begins.
– You need a computer, tablet or phone to connect to the group. – You can use video or participate with just your voice.
– You can talk in group or just listen, whatever is most helpful to you in the moment.
Who is this for?
The groups are for everyone who is challenged with anxiety and depression symptoms, and those that feel that they need the support.
Who is this NOT for?
The groups are NOT meant to be a substitute for professional mental health care. They are to be used as peer support from people who are also on the road to recovery, and in no way, offer any mental health advice, treatment or care.
What is the age range?
18 & over. Because of legal restrictions, we cannot have anyone under 18 participate.
Who facilitates?
Someone who lives with a mood disorder and is trained to facilitate
How do you keep me safe in a group?
What happens after my free group?
After your free group, you can sign up for a monthly membership with unlimited groups per month. Your credit card will be charged on a monthly basis. There are no contracts – you can cancel at any time. Send us an email at info@be-connected.net and you will be billed for the current month, then not again. You are always welcome back, so just log back in and start your subscription again any time you want.
You also can pay individually for each group.
In either case, log in from the “join now” button and pick the groups you want to attend from the calendar.
What do I do if I can’t log in to a meeting?
We highly recommend logging in to a meeting 10 – 15 minutes early, so you can deal with any connection problems. There is always a call-in phone number provided. If you can’t get your computer, tablet or phone video or audio working, call in to the meeting on your phone.