A support group provides a space where people can come together to share personal experiences, feelings, and coping strategies. It allows you to hear from others about their cancer experience and offer support and learning to one another.

Feeling less lonely or isolated

Normalizing your experience

Reducing distress, depression or anxiety

Talking openly and honestly about your feelings

Improving skills to cope with challenges

Regain feelings of control, hope

Learning from others about what support have worked for them (health, economic or social resources)

Sense of community

Develop meaning to your personal experience

Overall reduction in stress and improvement in quality of life

Support groups at Gilda’s Toronto have around 10-12 members.

You will require the following to participate:

• Computer, phone or tablet with a camera
• Internet connection
• A private room without distraction to participate.

Gilda’s Toronto offers 8-week support groups three times a year. Our support groups are not operated on a drop-in basis, and we encourage commitment to the entire 8-week.  A commitment to the group helps build community and allows for topics and conversations to be built on weekly.

Support groups are an hour and a half in length. They often start with a check-in, where each member has a chance to share how they are doing and update on what has occurred since the last group session. They move on to an open conversation where members can take turns discussing whatever relevant topics to their cancer experience they would like to discuss.

We do not put adult family members in the same group. If you realize that you have a past relationship with somebody in your support group (friends, family or co-worker), please discuss this with the facilitator immediately to discuss a plan.

All of the support groups at Gilda‘s Toronto are led by masters prepared mental health professionals, including social workers, psychotherapists, and child life specialists.

If your session is full, you are welcome to contact us to either be put on the waitlist or to register for the next session of support groups. If you are not a member of Gilda’s Toronto, we ask you to fill out our Membership Inquiry Form. Gilda’s Toronto offers healthy lifestyle, education, and social programs you are welcome to access before your support group starts.

Gilda’s Toronto is a charitable organization. Thanks to our generous donors, we run groups at no cost to our members