About NAMI San Diego

Over 45 years of peer-led mental health support,
education, and advocacy

Our Mission

Founded in 1978, we serve as the community’s voice on mental illness. We are a part of The National Alliance on Mental Illness, a grass-roots, nonprofit with a national presence.

Support

People with mental illnesses and their families by helping them find coping mechanisms for their daily struggle with brain disorders.

Educate

People who have mental illness, their families, and the general public about mental illness with the goal of dispelling ignorance and stigma.

Advocate

For more research and an improved system of mental health services across the nation.

Our Story

The San Diego affiliate of NAMI was incorporated in 1978 as “Parents of Adult Schizophrenics” where people met to provide support during a time when it was thought that parents cause their children’s mental illness.

Our group was renamed the San Diego Alliance for the Mentally Ill in the 1980s and has grown to over 400 members since becoming NAMI San Diego in 2000.

Our organizations consists of dedicated staff and volunteers who help with our support groups, helpline and warmline, outreach, and education.

Our Strategic Plan

Housing

  • Peer Assisted Housing Support Services
  • Increase Homeless Outreach Worker Services
  • Partner with Other Agencies for enhanced navigation/support services

Population Health

  • Leverage technology
  • Focused DEI/IDEA strategies
  • Targeted funding for population health

Strengthen Organization

  • Board Development/Training
  • Employee Wellness
  • Diversify Revenue Sources
  • Reduce Stigma

Co-Occurring Disorders

  • Peer/Family Outreach & Education
  • SUD Peer Support
  • Reduce Stigma
  • Partnership with SUD agencies

Looking to the Future

NAMI San Diego envisions a well-integrated group of people living with mental illnesses and others affected by mental illnesses working together to reach all of the community with NAMI programs.

We envision the community profiting from NAMI’s efforts and recognizing that NAMI makes it a better place in which to live, send their kids to school, secure and keep jobs, find housing, and live with a mental illness.

We also see our identifying more needs for more programs and doing what it takes to provide those programs.

Explore NAMI

Meet our Team

Get to know the dedicated community members who make all of this possible

Meet the team

Attend an Event

Sign up for an upcoming class, workshop, or support group

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Get Involved

Help us continue supporting the community with a donation or participation

Make a difference