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What are NAMI Programs?

Across the country, thousands of trained NAMI volunteers bring peer-led programs to a wide variety of community settings, from churches to schools to NAMI Affiliates. With the unique understanding of people with lived experience, these programs and support groups provide outstanding free education, skills training and support.

Why Have Them?

1 in 5 Americans have a mental illness. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation’s leading voice on mental health. Today, NAMI is an association of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and volunteers who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.

How Do They Work?

Local NAMI Affiliates equip volunteers to lead support groups of various kinds. What programs each local affiliate offers is at the discretion of the local chapter itself. You can always navigate to the Find Your Local NAMI page at the NAMI national website to learn more about each local affiliate.

Who Are They For?

The scope of the programs ranges from those managing their own mental illness to equipping caregivers to help other manage. Programs are offered for children and adults.