Pancreatitis can be isolating. Flares cancel plans, and the pain is often invisible to the people around you. Many patients go years without meeting anyone who understands what they're going through.
Support groups help close that gap. You can ask questions and swap practical tips with people who have lived it, and find support on hard days. Groups are also a good way to hear about new research, clinical trials and patient resources.
Online support groups for pancreatitis include Mission: Community to End Pancreatitis, Pancreatitis Support on HealthUnlocked, The National Chronic Pancreatitis Support Group Chat Page, r/pancreatitis on Reddit, and groups for PRSS1, SPINK1 and pediatric pancreatitis. All are free, and Mission: Cure runs or moderates four of them.
Not sure where to start? Mission: Community to End Pancreatitis is open to anyone affected by pancreatitis, acute or chronic, including caregivers and loved ones.
Online support groups for pancreatitis
General pancreatitis communities
Mission: Community to End Pancreatitis
For patients, caregivers and anyone affected by pancreatitis, acute or chronic. Members share their experiences and get updates on research, clinical trials, webinars and new patient resources.
Join on FacebookPancreatitis Support on HealthUnlocked
For people living with chronic pancreatitis, recurrent acute pancreatitis and EPI. Members share information on symptoms, treatment and research opportunities.
Join on HealthUnlockedThe National Chronic Pancreatitis Support Group Chat Page
A large community run by The National Chronic Pancreatitis Support Network, a nonprofit that also helps patients get medications and cover medical expenses.
Join on FacebookLiving with Pancreatitis
For people with acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis and related pancreatic issues, such as bile duct problems, whether mild or severe. Members share diet tips, medical tips and their own stories.
Join on FacebookLiving with Pancreatitis and Mental Health Support Group
A place to share experiences and get emotional support, including for the anxiety and depression that can come with acute and chronic pancreatitis. Families, friends and partners are welcome too.
Join on FacebookPancreatic Disease: A Support and Awareness Group
Focused on the stigma and discrimination people with pancreatic disease often face, and how members cope with it.
Join on Facebookr/pancreatitis
An open forum on Reddit where people with pancreatitis and their loved ones post questions and share experiences. You can read without an account.
Posts are public. If you join, consider a username that doesn't use your real name.
Visit on RedditGenetic and hereditary pancreatitis
Not sure what PRSS1 or SPINK1 mean for you? Learn more about genetics and pancreatitis.
PRSS1 Mutation: Hereditary Pancreatitis Patients Want a Cure
For patients and caregivers affected by a PRSS1 gene mutation. Connect with others who share the same diagnosis. Active patient communities like this one also help draw research funding and drug company attention to hereditary pancreatitis.
Join on FacebookSPINK1 Pancreatitis: Patients, Families, and Caregivers
For patients, parents and caregivers affected by pancreatitis linked to SPINK1.
Join on FacebookPediatric pancreatitis
Childhood Pancreatitis: Support
From the Foundation for Childhood Pancreatitis, for parents and families of children with pancreatitis. Members share tips for managing symptoms and help each other with the emotional side of a child's illness.
Join on FacebookFinding the right group for you
- Most groups ask a few short questions before approving you. That's how admins keep them safe and on topic.
- It's fine to join a few and read for a while before you post.
- If a group doesn't feel supportive, leave it.
- Groups are run by different organizations and volunteers. If you read medical advice there, talk it over with your care team before acting on it.
Know a group that should be on this list? Let us know and we'll review it for the next update.
Common questions about pancreatitis support groups
Is there a pancreatitis subreddit?
Yes. r/pancreatitis is an open Reddit community where people with pancreatitis and their loved ones post questions and share experiences. Posts there are public, so consider a username that doesn't use your real name.
Are there online support groups for chronic pancreatitis?
Yes. Mission: Community to End Pancreatitis, Pancreatitis Support on HealthUnlocked and The National Chronic Pancreatitis Support Group Chat Page all welcome people with chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatitis Support on HealthUnlocked is a forum you can join without a Facebook account.
Are there support groups for acute pancreatitis?
Yes. Mission: Community to End Pancreatitis, Living with Pancreatitis, and Living with Pancreatitis and Mental Health Support Group all welcome people with acute pancreatitis.
Will people I know see what I post?
In a private Facebook group, only members can see posts, so they won't show up for your friends or family outside the group. Other members can see your name. On HealthUnlocked, anyone can read posts but member profiles are anonymous. Reddit posts are public.
Can caregivers and family members join?
Yes. Most groups on this list welcome caregivers, family and friends as well as patients. Childhood Pancreatitis: Support is specifically for parents and families of children with pancreatitis.
Are there support groups for hereditary or genetic pancreatitis?
Yes. Mission: Cure moderates groups for people affected by PRSS1 and SPINK1 gene variants. Learn more about genetics and pancreatitis.
More mental health resources
Support groups are one part of caring for your mental health. Mission: Cure has partnered with Give an Hour to create a library of resources for people living with pancreatitis and the people who care for them.
Pancreatitis & Mental Health: What You Should Know
Julie Wells of Give an Hour explains how pancreatitis can affect mental health and introduces simple ways to notice and manage difficult emotions. The page also has three companion toolkits to download: My Support System, Self-Regulation and Emotion Tracker.
See the video and toolkitsIf hard days start to feel like the norm, it may be time to talk with a mental health professional.
If you are in crisis, reach out now.
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.), available 24/7. Outside the U.S., Findahelpline.com lists international support lines.
Last updated October 2026
About Mission: Cure
At Mission: Cure, we are dedicated to finding effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for pancreatitis. Through patient education, research, and advocacy, we strive to improve the lives of those affected by this condition.
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