Education
NAMI Education courses are designed to facilitate a better understanding of mental illness, increase coping skills and empower participants to become advocates for their family members and for themselves.
Support
NAMI Support groups are designed for family members, caregivers and individuals living with mental illness. Our groups are designed for those hoping to gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar circumstances.
Advocacy
NAMI is a strong voice on mental illness; carrying out ongoing advocacy for a public policy agenda to improve mental health services throughout our county, reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, and support effective treatment and recovery programs.
What people are saying...
Stephen Kaplan
“Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) values the guidance, support and education NAMI SMC provides to family members that have a loved one living with a mental illness. BHRS staff regularly refers NAMI recognizing how important families are to the recovery process. Lastly, we appreciate the strong and effective NAMI advocacy on behalf of families and consumers of our services.”
Stephen Kaplan
LCSW Director, Behavioral Health & Recovery Services
San Mateo County
Jim Coffman
“Next to County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, NAMI is the third leg of the stool in the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) program since 2005. CIT has trained over 500 first responders that have the knowledge and skills to deal more effectively with people in a mental health crisis. I have personally referred many families to NAMI chapters in the Bay Area in order to help them deal with the life changing events when a loved one suffers their first break. NAMI is an invaluable resource to law enforcement in San Mateo County.”
Jim Coffman
Detective, Psychiatric Emergency Response Team San Mateo County
Calvin Shelton
“NAMI San Mateo gave me a chance to grow. I dealt with a diagnosis of Paranoid Schizophrenia most of my life, and since taking the NAMI Peer-to-Peer class, I am now a Peer Mentor and their lead co-teacher. With the help of NAMI SMC, I have developed my leadership abilities and am a valued team member.”
Calvin Shelton
Redwood City
Teresa Walker
“I am one of the original founders of NAMI which started here in San Mateo County. We called ourselves AMI (Alliance for the Mentally Ill) before the organization went national. At 90 years old, I am proud to be a member of NAMI SMC. Keep up the good work! Thanks for doing what you are doing.”
Teresa Walker — On Sept 9, 2017 our longtime friend and past NAMI SMC Board President past away at 92 years young. Over the years, Terry worked tirelessly in a variety of capacities in the mental illness arena. We salute Terry for her many contributions and appreciate all she has done for our community within NAMI SMC and in the mental health community; increasing awareness, supporting families and improving services! Terry will be greatly missed!
Gina Olinger
“I’m really glad that I took the NAMI Peer-to-Peer class. Within 10 weeks I was able to get lots of new information and learn new techniques that I now use to make progress in my recovery.”
Gina Olinger, San Carlos
County health department developing plan to stanch red ink.
Discussions about Medicare For All and the Affordable Care Act in the presidential debates are highlighting the affordability crisis in health care nationwide. And while some are advocating that the federal government play a larger role in paying for health coverage,...
Starbucks boosts mental health benefits with new app.
Starbucks employees now have free access to Headspace, an app which provides hundreds of audio sessions and meditations to manage and improve mental health. Headspace is part of a larger Starbucks initiative aimed at supporting the mental health and well-being of its...
Helping improve San Mateo County’s mental health NAMI celebrates 45 years of assisting with mental illness.
As focus grows on stressors and anxieties tend to rise through the holiday season, a small but mighty advocacy organization reminds Peninsula families that mental health should be a priority through the rest of the year as well. NAMI, or National Alliance on Mental...
Support NAMI SMC and help members of your community who face mental illness everyday.
Are you in CRISIS?
You are not alone.
Take the next step and become a member of NAMI today.
- Feb 3, 2020 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every month that begins at 6:30pm on day First of the month, repeating until Jan 4, 2021
NAMI Cordilleras MHR Center Family Group
1st Mondays (2nd Monday if 1st is a holiday), 6:30p-8pm. 200 Edmonds Road, Redwood City. (650) 3...
- Feb 3, 2020 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 7:00pm on Monday, repeating until Jan 25, 2021
NAMI Connections
NAMI CONNECTIONS! Every Monday! For persons working on their wellness and recovery. Connections ...
- Feb 4, 2020 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every month that begins at 6:30pm on day First of the month, repeating until Jan 5, 2021
An event every month that begins at 6:30pm on day Third of the month, repeating until Jan 19, 2021
NAMI San Mateo Medical Center
For Family Members. 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 6:30-8pm. 222 W. 39th Avenue and Edison, San Mateo. Board ...
