Updated on Oct 2023.

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 and out of 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.

NOTE: If you are looking for information about mental health treatments or have a close friend or family member who is living with a mental health condition like depression or anxiety and you want to support them, our Pre-treatment Guidance Program is perfect for that. Please read here, and sign up accordingly.

Key Information

• Peer support group Participants: Our support groups are for people living with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or suicide ideation. The support group is especially effective for newcomers who are in situations of lack of social support, experiencing shame and guilt of having depression or people who present an elevated risk of mental illness.


• Date: every second and fourth Tuesday (both offline by default)


• Time : 19:30-21:00


• Location: near dongdaqiao (details will be communicated via a confirmation email after 4 pm, the day before each meeting)


• Language: English


• Max number: 7 people each session


• Fee: 88rmb


• Registration via scanning QR code, or click on

https://yoopay.cn/event/05475102

• Support Group coordinator will reach out via private message to confirm your registration after screening and payment.

Content and Approach:

During the meeting, the core elements are as follow:

• Share our stories and feelings, and let others help you and give you emotional support when dealing with the difficult emotions alone.


• Help each other recognize the importance of tending to and promoting our own self-care


• The meeting is generally conducted in talking and sharing, but we offer other approaches to make sure that we feel relaxed and comfortable to share, including some guided meditation, breathing exercises, etc. There is one facilitator to throughout the session, monitor the progress of each session and facilitate group interactions.


• Keep in touch with each other, as 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, other information that might be helpful for your recovery.

Peer Group Principles

• We shall not be held responsible for group member’s safety. We are all 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.


• All information shared with the group is confidential. All new participants will need to register first for eligibility screening.


• 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 no professional therapists attending.


• 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.

CandleX Resources

• If you are in a crisis, please seek a professional immediately at the same time. Your will find useful information on our crisis page, visit: https://www.candlex.cn/single-post/crisis-hotlines-be-brave-reach-out-for-help


• If you’re more interested in how to navigate the mental health world and get more info on how to get support or get treatment, for you or someone you know, please check out our pretreament guidance program.


• If you are looking for professional support, you can check out our video channel this channel for more info.

If you’re a facilitator or interested in becoming one and joining the facilitator processing group, please check out the facilitator’s processing group article.