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+)
The following Family Support Groups are available remotely!
Our On site Family Support Groups are Suspended tfn!
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, 8-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.