* Note: NAMI does not offer support groups for people under age 18.  Normally, groups for children and adolescents must be led by a licensed professional, while NAMI groups are run by trained peers with lived experience.  You can try contacting your insurance provider to locate a mental health agency that offers therapy groups for youth. NAMI does have support groups and an education class (NAMI Basics) for parents and caretakers of children & adolescents with mental health issues.

Note: Due to Covid Restrictions, our support groups are meeting online via Zoom

You will need to pre-register to attend online NAMI Family Support Groups*

  • To pre-register, click on the link to sign up ahead of time.
  • You will receive a zoom link from your facilitator by email on the day of your meeting.
  • Deadline to sign up: 2 hours before the support group begins (e.g. 5 PM for groups starting at 7 PM)
  • Group facilitator will email the zoom link to the email you provided at registration. Please note: the facilitator will not be able to email you if you register after the deadline.
  • For more information about these groups, call NAMI Helpline at 408-453-0400 #1 Mon – Fri 10 AM to 6 PM (press #4 if calling after 6 PM).

*To find a NAMI Family support group that meets your needs, see page 2 of the current Resource Guide, which lists the groups, their schedules and instructions for attending. We recommend that you attend a few groups to find the one that best suits your needs. For more information, call our NAMI Helpline at 408-453-0400 option 1, during our office hours: Monday – Friday from 10am to 6pm.

*  Please Note: Observers (e.g., media, researchers, students) are NOT PERMITTED to attend or audit any NAMI SCC class or support group as the information shared in the group is confidential.

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Family Support Groups

NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences.

NAMI’s support groups are unique because they follow a structured model, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to be heard and to get what they need.

  • Free of cost to participants
  • Designed for adult loved ones of people with mental health conditions
  • Led by family members of people with mental health conditions
  • 60-90 minutes long and meets weekly, every other week or monthly (varies by location)
  • No specific medical therapy or treatment is endorsed
  • Confidential

What You’ll Gain

By sharing your experiences in a safe setting, you can gain hope and develop supportive relationships. This group allows your voice to be heard and provides an opportunity for your personal needs to be met. It encourages empathy, productive discussion and a sense of community. You’ll benefit from other’s experiences, discover your inner strength and empower yourself by sharing your own experiences in a non-judgmental space.

NAMI Family Support Group will help you:

  • Aim for better coping skills
  • Find strength in sharing experiences
  • Not judge anyone’s pain
  • Forgive ourselves and reject guilt
  • Embrace humor as healthy
  • Accept that we cannot solve every problem
  • Understand that mental health conditions are no one’s fault and can be traumatic experiences

What People Are Saying

“The most beneficial thing for me was that I am not alone. I found the NAMI Family Support Group at the time I really needed it!”

“The support group facilitators and attendees were respectful of other people’s experiences and were non-judgmental when there were different ways of handling things.”

“I felt I received constructive, practical and helpful information from group members.”

“Using the [NAMI] support group model is so essential to the success of our family support groups. As a group, the collective wisdom covered a lot of possibilities.”

  • Family/Friends Support Group

    This group is for adult participants who are caring for someone with a mental health condition. It is ONLY for a care-givers (Family/Friend).

  • Peer, Friends and Family

    This group is for both – Peers/Consumers living with mental health condition AND/OR their family members/friends supporting them.

  • Family Support Groups in Other Languages

    Spanish
    Korean
    Mandarin

NAMI Santa Clara County offers Three kinds of Family Support Groups:

  1. Support Group for Family and Friends ONLY: This group is for adult participants who are caring for someone with a mental health condition.
  2. Support Group for Peers/Consumers living with mental health condition and their family members or friends supporting them.
  3. Family Support in Other Languages: NAMI -Santa Clara County offers support groups in Spanish, Mandarin and Korean.

NAMI FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS

NAMI Family Support Group is for family members, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. In Santa Clara county, we hold several monthly support groups meeting from Palo Alto to Gilroy. We suggest you go to a few different meetings to find the ones that best meets for your family’s support needs. The list of support groups can be found on pages 2 & 3 of our current Resource Guide.  

NAMI FAMILY AND PEER SUPPORT GROUPS

These support groups are open to both family members and for individuals living with mental health conditions. You and your family member can attend together. Hearing the perspectives and experiences of both families and individuals with mental health issues can give hope 1) to families, who see individuals living in recovery and managing their lives and 2) to individuals, who find their own voices while expressing themselves to their families.

NAMI SUPPORT GROUPS IN OTHER LANGUAGES

    • Spanish:   San Jose, Every Friday of month, 7-9:30 pm; 1150 S. Bascom Ave. Suite 24, San Jose. For more information, contact Erika at 408-453-0400 x3065. *New Meeting every Friday Over zoom since 2020. 
    • Korean:   Cupertino, 1st Friday of month, 12:30 – 2:30 pm. Call for location: Kyo, 408-712-1149
    • Mandarin:   See NAMI Chinese Support Groups for details. During Covid restrictions, contact Jen at jenhong1947@gmail.com
    • Mental health education and support: Mental Health Association for Chinese Communities (see video below to learn about their programs and services)

*Note: Due to COVID Restrictions, some support groups may meet more often. You can find the list of support groups on pages 2 & 3 of the current Resource Guide. 

OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS

Our current Resource Guide also lists meeting dates, times, locations and contact information for other local community organizations that offer free mental health support groups for Consumers, Families and Friends.

In addition, we list related support groups from the following organizations: