The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) San Mateo County is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with mental illness and their families through support, education, and advocacy. NAMI SMC was founded in 1974 as Parents of Adult Schizophrenics, and later as the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of San Mateo County. A 501(c)3 nonprofit, NAMI SMC has been a key voice for the mentally ill of our county and their families since our early days as a small advocacy group. NAMI SMC founded Mateo Lodge, Inc., which provides residential facilities and an around-the-clock mobile support team. Today, the NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, founded in 1979, has over 1,200 affiliates and 220,000 members throughout the United States and beyond. The work of NAMI SMC is still being carried out primarily by volunteer family members and consumers, proving that people who care can make a difference. SUPPORT GROUPS MATTERS! NAMI SMC Support Groups for families learning to cope with a serious mental illness are held at various times and places throughout the county. A complete listing of support meetings is located in the NAMI SMC NEWSLETTER and on our website.