PEER SUPPORT GROUPS
Peer support groups (PSGs) serve as a space to connect with other disabled UVic students with similar lived experiences. At the SSD, we provide PSGs for various disabilities throughout the academic year, which are led by trained Peer Facilitators with lived experience. PSGs are offered throughout the school year, based on interest from the community and facilitator availability, with past groups including Autism, ADHD, chronic pain, and general disability. Our PSGs are hybrid, meaning that we blend in-person and online attendees in the same space, allowing for both on- and off-campus participation!
PSGs are drop-in and do not require registration, but we have a mailing list for those who wish to receive email reminders and updates for upcoming PSGs! Click the button below to sign-up for the mailing list today!
Please note that Peer Facilitators are not licensed professionals! They are student volunteers (or SSD staff, in some cases) that are provided with training on group facilitation. Peer Facilitators can provide advice from their own lived experience and relevant on/off-campus resources, but they cannot make referrals, diagnose, or provide medical/psychological advice. If you are interested in becoming a Peer Facilitator, fill out the interest form!
Scroll down on this webpage to learn more about the PSGs that are currently being offered, their dates and times, locations, Zoom access, and more! Email Kai at edussd@uvic.ca with any further questions about our PSGs.
CURRENT PEER SUPPORT GROUPS
This semester, we are offering PSGs for Autism, Chronic Pain, Anxiety, OCD, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, and Depression. Scroll down to learn more specific details about each group!
Autism Peer Support Group (Fall 2026)
Our Autism PSGs are for anyone who self-identifies as Autistic (no diagnosis required!) to come chill, meet other Autistic people, seek advice, or just chat!
Fall 2026 Autism PSGs will run every first Monday (bi-weekly) starting October 19th until November 30th, at 6:30pm-8:00pm, and will be hybrid: you can join us either in-person in the SSD Lounge (Student Union Building B111) or online via Zoom!
Click the button below to join the Zoom meeting!
The link will also be emailed to you the day before/of the PSG, if you are on the mailing list!
Chronic Pain Peer Support Group (Fall 2026)
Our Chronic Pain PSGs are for anyone who experiences persistent pain symptoms (no formal or specific diagnosis required!) to come chill, meet others with shared experience, seek advice, or just chat!
Fall 2026 Chronic Pain PSGs will run every first Tuesday (bi-weekly) starting October 20th until December 1st, at 6:30pm-8:00pm, and will be hybrid: you can join us either in-person in the SSD Lounge (Student Union Building B111) or online via Zoom!
Click the button below to join the Zoom meeting!
The link will also be emailed to you the day before/of the PSG, if you are on the mailing list!
Anxiety Peer Support Group (Fall 2026)
Our Anxiety PSGs are for anyone who experiences anxiety and its related symptoms (no formal or specific diagnosis required!) to come chill, meet others with shared experience, seek advice, or just chat! Anxiety PSGs are hosted in collaboration with the UVSS Peer Support Centre.
Fall 2026 Anxiety PSGs will run every first Wednesday (bi-weekly) starting October 21st until December 2nd, at 6:30pm-8:00pm, and will be hybrid: you can join us either in-person in the SSD Lounge (Student Union Building B111) or online via Zoom!
Click the button below to join the Zoom meeting!
The link will also be emailed to you the day before/of the PSG, if you are on the mailing list!
OCD Peer Support Group (Fall 2026)
Our OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) PSGs are for anyone who experiences OCD/related symptoms (no formal or specific diagnosis required!) to come chill, meet others with shared experience, seek advice, or just chat!
Fall 2026 OCD PSGs will run every first Thursday (bi-weekly) starting October 22nd until December 3rd, at 6:30pm-8:00pm, and will be hybrid: you can join us either in-person in the SSD Lounge (Student Union Building B111) or online via Zoom!
Click the button below to join the Zoom meeting!
The link will also be emailed to you the day before/of the PSG, if you are on the mailing list!
Contact: edussd@uvic.ca
Dates: October 26th; November 9th* and 23rd; December 7th
*Nov 9th will be ONLINE ONLY due to Reading Break
ADHD Peer Support Group (Fall 2026)
Our ADHD PSGs are for anyone who self identifies with ADHD (no formal diagnosis required!) to come chill, meet others with ADHD, seek advice, or just chat!
Fall 2026 ADHD PSGs will run every second Monday (bi-weekly) starting October 26th until December 7th, at 6:30pm-8:00pm, and will be hybrid: you can join us either in-person in the SSD Lounge (Student Union Building B111) or online via Zoom!
Click the button below to join the Zoom meeting!
The link will also be emailed to you the day before/of the PSG, if you are on the mailing list!
Contact: edussd@uvic.ca
Dates: October 27th; November 10th* and 24th; December 8th
*Nov 10th will be ONLINE ONLY due to Reading Break
Learning Disabilities Peer Support Group (Fall 2026)
Our Learning Disabilities PSGs are for anyone who self identifies with any learning disability* (no formal or specific diagnosis required!) to come chill, meet others with shared experience, seek advice, or just chat!
Fall 2026 Learning Disabilities PSGs will run every second Tuesday (bi-weekly) starting October 27th until December 8th, at 6:30pm-8:00pm, and will be hybrid: you can join us either in-person in the SSD Lounge (Student Union Building B111) or online via Zoom!
Click the button below to join the Zoom meeting!
The link will also be emailed to you the day before/of the PSG, if you are on the mailing list!
Contact: edussd@uvic.ca
Dates: October 29th; November 12th* and 26th; December 10th
*Nov 12th will be ONLINE ONLY due to Reading Break
Depression Peer Support Group (Fall 2026)
Our Anxiety PSGs are for anyone who experiences depression and related symptoms (no formal or specific diagnosis required!) to come chill, meet others with shared experience, seek advice, or just chat! Anxiety PSGs are hosted in collaboration with the UVSS Peer Support Centre.
Fall 2026 Depression PSGs will run every second Thursday (bi-weekly) starting October 29th until December 10th, at 6:30pm-8:00pm, and will be hybrid: you can join us either in-person in the SSD Lounge (Student Union Building B111) or online via Zoom!
Click the button below to join the Zoom meeting!
The link will also be emailed to you the day before/of the PSG, if you are on the mailing list!
Please note that PSGs are not led by licensed professionals, rather a volunteer/staff peer-facilitator with lived experience who is there to engage the group in meaningful, and safe, discussions. Peer-facilitators can provide advice from their own lived experience and relevant on/off-campus resources, but they cannot make referrals, diagnose, or provide medical/psychological advice.
PAST PEER SUPPORT GROUPS
PSGs that we have held in the past!
(note: this only includes groups that have been listed on the website as of Summer 2026)
Summer Autism PSG
Summer time can be a difficult time for Autistic people, due to changes in routine, hot weather, and other social stressors. Whether you’re in summer classes on campus, or have gone home for the summer, it can be difficult to find community at this time of year. This summer, the SSD is offering a summer-time Autism Peer Support Group (PSG), for anyone who self-identifies as Autistic (no diagnosis required!) to come chill, meet other Autistic people, seek advice, or just chat!
Summer Autism PSGs will run every second Tuesday starting June 16th until August 25th, at 1:00pm-2:30pm, and will be hybrid: you can join us either in-person (Student Union Building B028) or online via Zoom!
Click the button below to join the Zoom meeting! The link will also be emailed to you if you are on the mailing list!
