If you’re in crisis, call or text 988.
Heading to college brings excitement, but it also brings unique mental health challenges: homesickness, academic pressure, identity exploration, and social anxiety. Support groups can fill the gap, and there are more options available than most students realize.
On-campus support groups
Most college counseling centers offer free support groups to enrolled students. Common groups include anxiety and stress management, social skills, grief and loss, identity exploration (LGBTQ+, multicultural, first-generation), academic performance, addiction and recovery, and relationship issues.
Visit your campus counseling center’s website or call them directly. Groups fill up quickly, so inquire early.
Off-campus options
Community mental health centers often run groups for young adults. Private practice therapists in college towns frequently offer groups tailored to the student population. NAMI on Campus clubs connect students to peer support.
Online support groups for students
Online groups are a great option for students in rural areas, with conflicting schedules, who prefer privacy, or studying abroad. Search for online groups on The Group Guide.
How to access your university counseling center
Most do not require a referral. You can call, walk in, or fill out an online intake form. If there is a long waitlist for individual therapy, ask specifically about groups; they often have shorter wait times.
Types of campus groups worth exploring
Process groups help you understand your relationship patterns. CBT-based anxiety groups teach practical skills for managing test and social anxiety. Grief groups provide support for loss. Identity-based groups create space to explore your identity with peers. Recovery groups help maintain sobriety in an environment where substance use is normalized.
For providers: partnering with local universities
Reach out to counseling center directors and offer to accept overflow referrals. Offer workshops on campus, post flyers at the student health center, and partner with student mental health organizations. Make sure your groups are listed on The Group Guide with language that speaks to college students.
Keep reading
- How to find a support group near you (online and in-person)
- What to expect at your first group therapy session
- What makes peer support groups so useful
Ready to find the right group for you? Browse over 2,000 therapy groups, support groups, and peer communities, searchable by topic, location, and format. Find a group near you →
A note on what we do (and don’t). The Group Guide is a directory. Group leaders write their own listings, and we don’t vet, supervise, or endorse them. We’re not a clinic, and we don’t guarantee outcomes. That’s the group’s work, not ours.
If you’re in crisis, call or text 988.