Support for Families
We offer Family-to-Family and NAMI Basics programs throughout the year for family members of those diagnosed with a mental illness.
All programs and classes are offered free of charge.
Support Groups for Families in San Mateo County
For Families of Adults with Mental Illness (aged 18+)
NAMI Groups
These NAMI support groups are for family members/caregivers only. 18 and over.
NAMI Cordilleras MHR Center Family Support Meeting for family members
200 Edmonds Road, Redwood City, (650) 367-1890
1st MONDAYS, 6:30-8pm (2ND Monday if 1st Monday of the month is a holiday).
Penney Mitchell & Julie Curry, NAMI SMC Co-Facilitators.
NAMI San Mateo Medical Center Support Meeting for family members.
222 W. 39th Ave. & Edison in San Mateo, Board Room (main entrance elevator to 2nd floor, left to the end of the hall)
1st & 3rd TUESDAYS, 6:30-8pm
NAMI South County Support Meeting for family members
South County BHRS Mental Health Clinic, 802 Brewster St., Redwood City, (650) 363-4111. (Park behind building and knock loudly on door.) 2nd TUESDAYS, 6:00 – 7:30pm. Pat Way NAMI SMC Facilitator and Liz Downard RN, MSN.
NAMI North County Support Group for family and friends.
2nd & 4th Thursdays
5:45-7pm, 375 89th Street, Community Room, Daly City. More info: 650-301-8650. Co-facilitators: Karen Pyles LMFT (pyles@smcgov.org) and Valerie Nolan, RN.
NAMI Spanish-Speaking Support Group for family members.
South County BHRS, 802 Brewster Ave, Redwood City.
2nd TUESDAYS, 6:00 – 7:30pm. Contact Claudia Saggese at (650) 573-2189
NAMI Palo Alto Support Meeting, family and friends are welcome. All denominations.
Jewish Family & Children’s Services
200 Channing Ave., Palo Alto, (650) 688-3097.
2nd Thursday 7:00 – 8:30pm. Contact Barbara St Clair, bstclair@namisantaclara.org or (415) 879-0399.
NAMI Stanford Support Group for family members.
401 Quarry Road, #2213, Stanford Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.
4th Thursday, 7:00 – 8:30pm. Contact Georgia Vouraki georgiavk@gmail.com
NAMI: Support Group For Parents of Youth & Young Adults
For family members with children ages 6-26 who have received a diagnosis.
San Mateo Medical Center: 222 W. 39th Ave & Edison, Board Room (main entrance elevator to 2nd floor, left to the end of hall). San Mateo. (650) 638-0800. Park in the large lot on the west side of the building off 37th Avenue. Enter building through the “Hospital & Clinic West & follow the NAMI signs to the 2nd floor Board Room, W-225).
2ND MONDAYS, 7-8:30pm. Ginny Traub & Florian Davos, Co-Facilitators.
Other Support Groups
Asian-Language Family Support Groups: Last THURSDAYS, 6-7:30 pm, Cantonese/Mandarin. 1950 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo. BHRS Main Entrance. (650) 261-3704 (Maureen) or (650) 573-3571 (Alice).
H.E.L.P. for those coping with a mental illness and/or those in a supporting role, Menlo Park Pres., 950 Santa Cruz Ave. THURSDAYS, 6:00pm optional dinner; 6:30-7:30 program, 7:30-8:30 prayer. Garden Court. Contact Jane at 650-464-9033.
Japanese Education & Support Group, call (415) 474-7310 for information.
Jewish Support Group, for those with mental illness and families and friends, Beit Kehillah, 26790 Arastradero Rd., Los Altos 2ND WEDNESDAYS, 6:15-8:30pm. For info, contact Carol Irwin (408)858-1372. People of all faiths are welcome.
Korean Support Group for Family Members: Cupertino, 4th Friday; 12:30 – 2:30 pm. Call for location: Kyo, 408-712-1149
Telecare, for family and friends of residents. 855 Veterans Blvd, Redwood City, 817-9070. 2ND WEDNESDAYS, 5:30-7pm.
Pacer (Post Adoption Center for Education & Research); Email sanmateotriad@pacer-adoption.org, or contact Dorothea for more information at 650-867-7257. 3rd THURSDAYS, 7:00 – 9:00PM
Parent Chat. For parent/caregivers of kids aged 14-24 with mental health challenges. 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 7-8:30pm. Orchard Room, Los Altos Library, 13 San Antonio Road. Info: Trudy Palmer 650 208 9116 or Donna Soo 650 823 0997.
What is the NAMI Family-to-Family Program?
The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is a free, 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses.
- The course is taught by trained family members in English and Spanish.
- All instruction and course materials are free to class participants.
- Over 300,000 family members have graduated from this national program.
A tribute video containing moving testimonials about the NAMI Family-to-Family program from family members and course instructors.
What does the course include?
- Current information about schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder (manic depression), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, and co-occurring brain disorders and addictive disorders.
- Up-to-date information about medications, side effects, and strategies for medication adherence.
- Current research related to the biology of brain disorders and the evidence-based, most effective treatments to promote recovery.
- Gaining empathy by understanding the subjective, lived experience of a person with mental illness
- Learning in special workshops for problem solving, listening, and communication techniques
- Acquiring strategies for handling crises and relapse
- Focusing on care for the caregiver: coping with worry, stress, and emotional overload
- Guidance on locating appropriate supports and services within the community
- Information on advocacy initiatives designed to improve and expand services
What is the NAMI Basics Program?
The NAMI Basics Program is a free, 6-week course designed for parents and other primary caregivers of children and adolescents experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties. It is not necessary that the child has received a specific diagnosis. Caregivers who suspect their child is experiencing symptoms of mental illness can benefit greatly from the course as they begin to navigate the evaluation and treatment process.
- The course is taught by trained family members.
- All instruction and course materials are free to class participants.
What does the course include?
- Learning about the normative stages of our emotional reaction to the trauma of mental illness.
- Recognizing that mental illnesses are biological brain disorders.
- The biology of mental illness: getting an accurate diagnosis.
- Treatment that works.
- Objective and subjective family burden – learning every-days skills to improve communication.
- The systems involved with your child and the importance of record keeping.
- Advocacy, review and sharing.
NAMI Basics is now available online through NAMI Basics OnDemand.