NAMI CLT — Free NAMI Peer Mental Health Support Charlotte, NC
NAMI Charlotte (NAMI CLT) is the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness serving Mecklenburg County and surrounding communities. The chapter runs a free, peer-led roster of mental health support groups year-round, including NAMI Connection (for adults living with a mental health condition), NAMI Family Support Group, NAMI Peer-to-Peer, and the Hope After Suicide Loss Support Group. Everything is free, intentionally low-barrier, and led by people with lived experience.
What to Expect
NAMI Charlotte offers multiple ongoing groups. NAMI Connection meets in person and online on a recurring schedule for adults living with any mental health condition. The Family Support Group meets for adults supporting a loved one with a mental health condition. The Hope After Suicide Loss Support Group meets virtually on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. — a separate peer group specifically for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. All groups follow the established NAMI peer support model: trained facilitators who have lived experience open and close the meeting; the bulk of the time is confidential peer sharing. There is no curriculum, no clinical assessment, and no expectation that you share before you are ready.
Who This Group Is For
Adults 18 and older in the Charlotte metro. The Connection group is for people living with any mental health condition — depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, OCD, eating disorders, or undiagnosed symptoms. The Family Support group is for adult family members, partners, chosen family, and close friends supporting someone with a mental health condition. Hope After Suicide Loss is for adults grieving a loved one lost to suicide. New members can join at any meeting.
Why Peer Support Works
NAMI’s peer support model has been refined over four decades and consistently shows improved self-management, lower hospitalization rates, and reduced family burnout among regular attendees. Local affiliates like NAMI Charlotte add geographic and cultural fit — the people in the room know Charlotte’s clinical landscape, schools, employers, and community resources from their own experience. The mix of Connection, Family, Peer-to-Peer, and Hope After Suicide Loss means most family situations have an appropriate group available.
How to Join
To register for any NAMI Charlotte support group, including Hope After Suicide Loss, contact Jaletta at (980) 689-0136 or via the support groups page at namicharlotte.org/support-and-education/support-groups. Registration is free; after registering you will receive a confirmation email with the meeting link or in-person details. Questions about NAMI Charlotte’s broader programming, classes, and advocacy work can be directed through the same number.