Moving to a new country, going through a breakup, losing a job, or living with mental conditions are very challenging. Yet, there’s no reason to suffer alone when one can choose to join hands with others and let the power of connection and group support encourage and heal us.

In the absence of such social support in Beijing, CandleX established the peer support group in October, 2015, with the goal to provide psychosocial support to Beijing community. It provides a safe and supportive environment for people living in Beijing to share personal thoughts and experiences in small, confidential gatherings.

To understand this project, or if you’d like to read our 1st, 2nd and 3rd year support group review, please visit https://www.candlex.cn/mental-health-support-group.

Key Information

• Participants: Our support group meetings are for people living with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or suicide ideation. The support group is especially effective for newcomers who find themselves in a situation of lacking social support, experiencing shame and guilt of having depression or people who present an elevated risk of mental illness.
• Time: 19:30-21:00 every second and fourth Tuesday of the month (in-person)
• Location: Near dongdaqiao (details will be communicated via wechat after 4 pm, the day before each meeting)
• Language: English
• Max number: 7 people each session
• Fee: 88rmb, 30rmb for students, financial aid is available for those going through financial difficulties
• Confirmation: Support Group coordinator will reach out via private message to confirm your registration after screening and payment

Peer Group Principles

• We gather to share our stories and feelings, help and give each other emotional support when dealing with the difficult emotions，recognize the importance of tending to and promote our own self-care. We use guided meditation and breathing exercises to create safe, peaceful and comfortable environment for sharing.
• We shall not be held responsible for group member’s safety. We all are peers. There are no professionals in this group. CandleX will not be responsible for people engaging in self-harm or suicidal ideations. By signing up to the peer support group, I understand and agree to release CandleX and its staff or volunteers from any or all liability connected to my own participation, including but not limited to any forms of self-harm or suicide.
• Confidentiality: All information shared with the group is strictly confidential. All new participants will need to register first for eligibility screening. Some information related to the group dynamics and facilitation may be used for an internal debrief between facilitators and the Support Group manager to improve the quality of sessions and to empower others to set up support groups during facilitator’s training.
• No graphic description of suicide, self-harm and death as it may trigger some of the attendees.
• Please note that this is a Peer Support Group, there will be one facilitator throughout the session to monitor the progress of each session and facilitate group interactions, no professional therapists will be attending. 
• We have a WeChat group (that you may join after attending at least one meeting) where you would be informed of Beijing community mental health events, as well as other information that might be helpful for your recovery.
• If you have any concerns or feedback of the support group, we welcome you to let us know by emailing it to xiaojie.qin@candlex.cn. The concern would be handled sensitively directly by CandleX’s director.