The Value of Online Peer Support Groups to Fight Loneliness, Depression, and Other Mental Health Conditions
Peer support groups traditionally took place in hospitals, clinics, schools, community centers, and religious institutions. However, online peer support provides a lifeline to those who cannot travel to one of these locations, perhaps because they live in a rural community or have limited mobility. The number of people who accessed online peer support multiple times a day appeared to double after March 2020 because of social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.