The NAMI HelpLine and core resources

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the largest grassroots mental health organisation in the United States. Founded in 1979 by family members of people with serious mental illness, it now has more than 600 state organisations and local affiliates, runs free education programs in dozens of languages, and operates a national HelpLine that takes hundreds of thousands of calls a year. If your loved one was just diagnosed with schizophrenia, NAMI is one of the first places almost any clinician will point you. This guide explains what NAMI actually offers, how to use it well, and what its limits are.

How NAMI is structured

NAMI has three layers:

• NAMI National — based in Arlington, Virginia. Sets curricula, runs the HelpLine, advocates federally, and provides materials.
• NAMI State Organisations — one in each US state. Coordinate state-level advocacy and training.
• NAMI Local Affiliates — more than 600 across the US. Run support groups, education programs, and community events.

The local affiliate is where most family members and people with mental illness actually engage with NAMI. They are typically run by volunteers, many of whom have lived experience or family experience themselves.

The NAMI HelpLine

The NAMI HelpLine is a free, confidential service available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, by phone (1-800-950-NAMI), text (text "HelpLine" to 62640), and chat through the NAMI website. It is staffed by trained volunteers, most of whom have personal lived experience.

The HelpLine is not a crisis line. For acute crisis, the US national resource is 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

What the NAMI HelpLine does well:

• Information about specific diagnoses, including schizophrenia.
• Help understanding the US mental health system.
• Referrals to local NAMI affiliates and support groups.
• Information about insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, SSDI/SSI, and other systems.
• A non-judgmental conversation when families are early in the process and don't know what to ask.

What it doesn't do:

• Provide clinical assessment or treatment.
• Replace a 988 or 911 call in an emergency.
• Locate beds in psychiatric hospitals.
• Give legal advice.

NAMI Family-to-Family

Family-to-Family is an 8-session, free, evidence-based education course for family members and friends of adults with mental illness. It is taught by trained family members who have been through the same experience. The curriculum covers symptoms, treatments, communication skills, self-care for caregivers, and navigating systems. A randomised controlled trial published in Psychiatric Services (Lucksted et al., 2013) found significant improvements in family wellbeing and coping at completion. The class has been delivered to several hundred thousand families since it was developed.

NAMI Peer-to-Peer

The peer-led counterpart is NAMI Peer-to-Peer, an 8-session free education course for adults with mental health conditions, taught by trained peer leaders. It covers diagnosis, recovery tools, advance directives, advocacy skills, and self-care. Like Family-to-Family, it is free, in-person or online depending on the affiliate.

Support groups

NAMI runs two main types of free support groups, available at most local affiliates:

• NAMI Family Support Group — for family members and loved ones of people with mental illness.
• NAMI Connection — for adults living with mental illness themselves.

Both follow a structured peer-led format with ground rules around confidentiality and respect. Groups typically meet weekly or bi-weekly for 60–90 minutes.

NAMI Ending the Silence and other programs

• Ending the Silence — presentations for middle and high school students about mental health warning signs.
• NAMI Homefront — Family-to-Family adapted for military families.
• NAMI Basics — for parents and caregivers of children with mental health conditions.
• NAMI In Our Own Voice — public presentations by people with lived experience.
• NAMI FaithNet — resources for faith communities.

Advocacy work

NAMI also runs federal and state advocacy on mental health parity, Medicaid coverage, crisis system funding, and criminal justice reform. NAMI's policy positions tend to be moderate and bipartisan — it is one of the few mental health organisations that lobbies effectively across both political parties.

How NAMI fits with other organisations

NAMI's roots in family advocacy give it a different starting point than peer-led organisations like the National Empowerment Center or MindFreedom International. There has been historical tension between family-led and survivor-led perspectives on issues like assisted outpatient treatment and involuntary care, where NAMI has generally supported broader use than survivor groups have. In recent years NAMI has increased the role of people with lived experience in its leadership and programs, narrowing some of the gap.

For most families navigating a new schizophrenia diagnosis, NAMI's local programs and HelpLine are an excellent first stop. People wanting a peer-led perspective alongside NAMI's offerings can also engage with HVN, NEC, or peer respite programs.

How to find your local affiliate

Visit nami.org/findsupport and enter your zip code. The directory lists local affiliates with their phone, email, support group schedules, and upcoming Family-to-Family or Peer-to-Peer sessions. Most affiliates respond to inquiries within a few business days.

Practical tips for using NAMI well

• Sign up for Family-to-Family or Peer-to-Peer early. Cohorts fill quickly. The structured curriculum helps when everything feels chaotic.
• Try at least two support group meetings. Group dynamics vary. The first meeting may not feel like fit.
• Use the HelpLine for navigation questions. It is particularly useful for understanding insurance, benefits, and state-level resources.
• Volunteer if you can. Many people who get support through NAMI later become family teachers, peer leaders, or board members. The role is meaningful and the training is good.
• Combine NAMI with peer-led organisations. They serve overlapping but distinct needs.

Related resources

See our guides on NAMI Family-to-Family, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, family psychoeducation, and peer support specialists.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified mental health professional. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 in the US, or your local emergency number.