Support Groups in Alameda County for the families of persons with mental illness.

The family support groups listed below provide those who attend with the opportunity to ask questions, share their experiences, and to support each other as they struggle to help and to cope with a mentally ill family member. There is no charge to attend and information shared at meetings is kept confidential by participants.

Note: meeting dates, times, and places are subject to change; please call before attending.

South Alameda County Family Support Group. 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7:00 pm; 4361 Agena Circle, Union City. For more information, call 510-727-2700 x4156 and ask for Patty Espeseth.

African American Family Support Group. Fourth Tuesday, 5:30 - 7:30 pm; 954-60th St., Suite 10, Oakland. Call Steve at the MHA office 510-835-5010.

NAMI East Bay. Second Wednesday, 7:00 pm., Albany United Methodist Church, 980 Stannage Ave. (at Marin Ave.) in Albany. Enter Stannage Ave. door & come upstairs. Also, Support Group for Families of Children & Adolescents with mental illness, 3rd Tuesday, 7:00 pm., at the Albany United Methodist Church; call 510-524-1250 for more information.

NAMI Tri-Valley Family Support Group. Meets the 4th Monday from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at St. Clare's Episcopal Church, 3350 Hopyard Road in Pleasanton. For more information, call Russell/Donna White at 925-455-6901 or email russdonnawhite@sbcglobal.net.

Parent Resource and Support Group - First Tuesday of the month, 7-9 p.m., Pathways to Wellness, 5674 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 116, Pleasanton. Call Suzi Glorioso at 925-443-1797 or email glorios4@comcast.net for more information.

NAMI Tri-Valley Family/Caregiver Support Group. Second Monday, 7:15 - 9:00 pm; Livermore Public Library at 1188 S. Livermore Ave. (in the Library Board Room). For more information, call Marsha McInnis at 925-980-5331 or email marsha_m@pacbell.net

Berkeley Families Support Group. Every Tuesday, 6:30 pm at Berkeley Mental Health, 2640 M.L. King Jr. Way, Berkeley (at Derby). Enter on Derby. For parents, spouses and partners. Call Marianne Davis at 510-981-5290 for information.

Berkeley Bipolar Support Group. Every Thursday, 7 - 9 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Herrick Hospital, Level A, 2001 Dwight Way, main conference room. Open to both families and persons being treated for bipolar disorder. For more information call Janna Wertz at 510-653-2959 or Mayona Endahl at 510-420-0868.

Herrick Hospital Family Support Group for Family/Friends of Older Adults with mental illness. Meets third Tuesday, 2:30 - 4pm, at Alta Bates Herrick Campus, 2001 Dwight Way, Room 3369b (3rd floor), Berkeley. Open to the community. Contact Monica Nowakowski-Carlson at 510-234-4100 or monicalcsw@alum.ca.calberkeley.org *NOTE NEW TIME AND DAY*

Faith-based Support Group. Nondenominational family support group meets 1st & 3rd Thursday at 7:00 pm, First Baptist Church of Castro Valley, 18550 Redwood Rd., Rm. 202. For more information call 510-582-0515.

Kaiser Family Education and Support Group - 6 week series; Wednesdays, 5:30-7:00pm, 3900 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611. Call Cathy Farrell at 510-752-6714 to pre-register. Not a drop-in group. Individual must be a Kaiser member to attend this group.

United Advocates for Children and Families support group is no longer meeting.

For information about alternative parenting classes call Rosa Warder at 510-383-1743.

The Depression and Sadness Support Group - A program of the Life Reaching Across to Life Organization - Meets 2nd and 4th Monday, 7:30-9 pm, 3833 Peralta Blvd., Suite D, Fremont. For more info call J. “Scotty” Scott at 510-745-9500 or Rev. Barbara Meyers at 510-796-5722.

Family/Caregiver/Provider Support Group - Every Wednesday of the month, 6-7 pm at Fairmont Hospital. 15400 Foothill Blvd., Building C, San Leandro. Call Maurice Fried at 510-895-4369 for more info.

Asian Language Family Support Groups. Family Support for Healthy Minds - Mandarin & Cantonese speaking families meet one Saturday each month from 10 am-noon. Meetings are held at 523-8th St. in Oakland. Call 510-522-0924 for more information.

Villa Fairmont Support Group. For families who have or have had a relative in Villa Fairmont. Every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.; 15200 Foothill Blvd., San Leandro; meets in the conference room. Call Jennifer Newfield at 510-352-9690 for more information.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For information on any of the above listed support groups contact the Mental Health Association of Alameda County, 954-60th Street, Suite 10, Oakland, CA 94608 or call 510-835-5010.