NAMI Family Support Group Logo

NAMI Family Support Groups are free groups for family members, friends, and other caregivers of people diagnosed with mental health conditions. Family Support Groups provide a nonjudgmental environment where caregivers can discuss concerns, learn about local resources, and benefit from one another’s collective knowledge and experience. Led by NAMI-trained facilitators who are also family members, they provide comfort, hope, and a sense of community.

NAMI Family Support Groups are unique because they follow a structured model, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to be heard and to get the support they need. By sharing your experiences in a safe and confidential setting, you gain hope and develop supportive relationships.

Most of our Family Support Groups are currently offered remotely – online or by conference call. We encourage you to attend a support group based in your area. Please contact the group leader to get the conference call or video conferencing details. For in-person groups, please review our guidance for in-person programs during COVID-19 before attending (pdf).

NAMI Family Support Groups
Northeastern Mass Family Support Groups

Acton Family Support Group

When: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
Contact: Susan at 978-263-8830 or mcdougalletal@aol.com

Bedford Family Support Groups

When: Last Tuesday of the month
7:30 – 9 pm via Zoom
Contact: Ivy at ivypompei@comcast.net

Burlington Family Support Group

When: 2nd Thursday of the month
7:30 – 8:45 pm via Zoom
Contact: Samantha at fsgroup397@gmail.com

Gloucester Family Support Group

When: 2nd Tuesday of the month
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
Contact: NAMI Cape Ann at 978-281-1557 or namicapeann@verizon.net

Haverhill & Amesbury Family Support Group

When: 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
Contact: 978-361-3922 or nnea333@gmail.com

Ipswich Family Support Group

When: 3rd Monday of the month
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
Contact: George Howe at gehowe@comcast.net, or Dori Prescott at dori.prescott@gmail.com or (978) 314-2762

Greater Lowell Family Support Group

When: 1st Wednesday of the month
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
Contact: Dick at rhedgar@verizon.net or Rie at rie.lopez.mph@gmail.com

Middleton Family Support Group

When: 1st Wednesday of the month
5:30 to 7 pm – Speaker, Potluck, Resources
7:15 – 8:45 pm – Family Support Group
Middleton Senior Center/Council on Aging
38 Maple St., Middleton, MA 01949
Contact: Sheila at 978-774-2872 or ShePowGir45@gmail.com

Peabody Family Support Group

When: last Wednesday of the month
7 – 8:30 pm
Peabody YMCA Children’s Room
259 Lynnfield St., Peabody, MA — Check in at front desk
Contact: Chris at 617-984-0504 or csadkowski@yahoo.com

Winchester Family Support Group

When: 2nd Tuesday of the month
6:45 pm via Zoom
Contact: Isobel at 860-908-8003 isobelmagee@gmail.com

Metro Boston Family Support Groups

Cambridge/Middlesex Family Support Group for Black Families

When: Last Wednesday of the month
7:15  – to 8:45 pm via Zoom
Contact:

Cambridge Family Support Group

When: 1st & 3rd Mondays of the month
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
and 2nd Monday of the month
4 – 5:30 pm via Zoom
Contact: Rae at 617-984-0527 or email@nami-cambridgemiddlesex.org

Dorchester Family Support Group

When: 2nd Thursday of the month
6 to 7:30 pm via Zoom
Contact:

  • Mark at 617-522-7439
  • Monica at 857-342-2796
Southeastern Mass Family Support Groups

Barnstable Family Support Groups

When: 3rd Tuesday of the month
7 – 8:30 pm
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
3055 Main Street (Rt. 6A), Barnstable
Contact: klemmon@namicapecod.org, and NAMI Cape Cod at 508-778-4277 or info@namicapecod.org

Falmouth Family Support Group

When: 4th Monday of the month
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
Contact: (508) 778-4277 or dbratcher@namicapecod.org

Harwich Family Support Group

When: 2nd Tuesday of the month
6 – 7 pm
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
310 Route 137
Contact: klemmon@namicapecod.org, and NAMI Cape Cod at 508-778-4277 or info@namicapecod.org

Martha’s Vineyard Family Support Group

When: 3rd Wednesday of the month
6:30 – 8 pm via Zoom
Contact: Cecilia at 201-981-5123 or ckbrennan@yahoo.com

Martha’s Vineyard Family Support Group

When: 1st Sunday of the month
6 – 7:30 pm via Zoom
Contact: Maryanne at 860-690-4583

Nantucket Family Support Group

When: 2nd Wednesday of the month
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
Contact: Suzanne at 508-332-9823

Plymouth Family Support Group

When: 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month
7 – 8:30 via Zoom
Contact:

South Shore Family Support Group

When: 2nd & 4th Thursdays of the month
6:30 – 8 pm
Abington Police Station Community Room, 215 Central St. Abington, MA
Contact: NAMI South Shore at 737-702-0434 or namisouthshore@gmail.com

Wellfleet Family Support Group

When: 4th Tuesday of the month
6 – 7:30 pm via Zoom
Contact: NAMI Cape Cod at 508-778-4277

Central Mass Family Support Groups

Clinton Family Support Group

When: every Friday
6:30 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
Contact: Edie at 978-345-2214

Leominster Family Support Group

When: 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month.
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
Contact: Paul at pbois56@gmail.com or 978-514-2942

Marlborough Family Support Group

When: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
Contact: Jessica at JLQuirk@gmail.com

Newton Family Support Group

When: 2nd Tuesday of each month
7 – 9 pm via Zoom
Contact: Glenn at glenn.vanaman.29@gmail.com

Worcester Family Support Group

When: 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month
7 – 9 pm via Zoom
Contact: Bill or Nancy at wnmusz@charter.net

Western Mass Family Support Groups

Northampton Family Support Group

This group is closed to participants outside of the area.
When: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
Contact: Carol at 413-527-0532

Orange Family Support Group

When: 2nd Wednesday of the month
5 – 7 pm via Zoom
Contact: Jen at 978-544-1859

Pittsfield Family Support Group

When: 2nd Thursday of the month
6:30 – 8 pm via Zoom
Contact: Wes at 413- 443-1666 or namibc@namibc.org

Springfield Family Support Group

When: last Wednesday of each month
7 – 9 pm via Zoom
Contact: Bernice at 413-596-5059 or bdrumheller@gmail.com

Williamstown Family Support Group

When: 4th Thursday of the month
6:30 – 8 pm via Zoom
Contact: Phyllis at phyllis.terrey100@gmail.com or 978-973-3995

Statewide Family Support Groups

Grupo de Apoyo para Familiares

Cuando: Tercer miercoles del mes
7 – 8:30 pm
Contacte: NAMI Latinx al latinx@namiboston.org o 781-819-3282

Spanish Language Family Support Group

When: 3rd Wednesday of the month
7 – 8:30 pm
Contact: NAMI Latinx at latinx@namiboston.org or 781-819-3282

Family Support Group
for the Black/Brown community
meets on the 1st Thursday of each month
7 – 9 pm via Zoom
contact for more information: Donna at dbun1@comcast.net

Family Support Group
for parents of school aged children
meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
contact for more information: NAMI Cape Cod at  508-778-4277

Family Support Group
for parents of teens and young adults, ages 13 to 23
meets every other Thursday
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
contact for more information: email ttapsgroup@gmail.com

Family Support Group
for parents of teen/young adults with emotional dysregulation
meets on the 2nd Monday of each month
6 – 7:30 pm via Zoom
contact for more information:  klemmon@namicapecod.org, and NAMI Cape Cod at 508-778-4277

Family Support Group
for parents of adults
meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month
7:30 – 9 pm via Zoom
contact for more information: Sharon at parentsofadultchildren22@gmail.com

Family Support Group
for partners/spouses of people with mental health diagnoses
meets on 2nd Tuesday of the month
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
contact for more information:

Family Support Group
for adult children of people with mental health conditions
meets on the 4th Monday of the month
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
contact for more information: Lara at lara@nami-cambridgemiddlesex.org

Family Support Group
for elderly caregivers
meets on the 3rd Friday of the month
12 – 1:30 pm via Zoom
contact for more information:

Family Support Group
for parents of adults diagnosed with Schizophrenia
(priority is given to people in the local area)
meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month
6:30 – 8 pm hybrid (via Zoom and in person)
1st Tuesday of the month
400 Nathan Ellis Highway, Suite B
contact for more information: Cliff at cliff.jazzdog@gmail.com

Family Support Group
for family members/caregivers of people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder
meets on the 4th Thursday of each month
7 – 8:30 pm via Zoom
contact for more information: Suzanne at 508-332-9823

Family Support Group
for family members/caregivers of people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder
meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month
6:30 – 8 pm via Zoom
contact for more information: Debbie at 508-778-4277 or dfrancis@namicapecod.org

Family Support Group
for family members/caregivers of people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder
meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month
6 – 7 pm via Zoom
contact for more information: Lisa at 508-560-3678 or lisanamimv@gmail.com

Looking for additional family support options?

Check out our Family Support resource page.

You can also contact our Compass helpline. Learn more about Compass.

NAMI Massachusetts Compass Helpline logo
Volunteering with NAMI Family Support Groups

Volunteer as a NAMI Family Support Group Facilitator
NAMI Family Support Groups are facilitated by two NAMI-trained leaders who have first-hand experience as a parent or family caregiver of a person who has been diagnosed with a mental health condition. Are you interested in becoming a Family Support Group facilitator? Contact Ilya Cherkasov, Director of Family Programs.

Support for this program is provided in part by:
Contact us for more information about NAMI Family Support Groups:

Ilya Cherkasov, MS
(he/him/his)
Senior Manager, Education & Support
617-286-7607
icherkasov@namimass.org

 

Eliza T. Williamson, M.Ed, MFA, CPS
Deputy Director of Programs
617-286-7616 or 617-580-8541 x 221
ewilliamson@namimass.org