Free nationwide emotional support, mental health information, practical resources, and connections to local NAMI affiliates and education programs.
Audience
Adults, teens and young adults, family members, caregivers, friends, and people seeking local mental health education
Coverage
United States
Availability
Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Service type
Information, emotional support, resource navigation, and local affiliate connection
Overview
The NAMI HelpLine helps people understand mental health concerns, locate support, and identify practical next steps for themselves, family members, or friends. It is an information and support service, not a crisis line or substitute for a licensed clinician.
Important distinction
This page is an independent Mello Zone orientation profile. It does not mean Mello Zone operates, supervises, endorses, or guarantees this organization. The provider remains responsible for its own service, eligibility, staffing, privacy practices, availability, and outcomes.
Contact methods
Phone, text, chat, email, locator, and website options can serve different needs. Availability notes are shown on every card.
Phone
1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. ET
A trained HelpLine specialist can provide information and practical next steps.
Text
NAMI to 62640
Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. ET
Text access to the HelpLine during operating hours.
helpline@nami.org
Responses follow HelpLine operations
Useful when the question is easier to explain in writing and is not urgent.
Locator
nami.org/findsupport
Online anytime
Local affiliates may offer free groups, classes, and community-specific programs.
What it can help with
What to expect
One-on-one contact with a trained HelpLine specialist
Emotional support plus practical information and referrals
Questions about whether the request is for you or someone you care about
Options for adults, families and caregivers, teens and young adults, and Spanish speakers
Connection to a local affiliate when community-based support is available
Limits and fit
History
1979
Milestone 01
NAMI traces its beginning to a small group of families who organized for better support, education, and public understanding of mental illness.
1990s
Milestone 02
NAMI established the HelpLine to connect people affected by mental illness with programs, information, and community resources.
Today
Milestone 03
More than 650 affiliates and 49 state organizations raise awareness and provide education and support in communities across the country.
Impact
These figures and examples are attributed to the provider's own public reporting. They do not guarantee an individual result.
A nationwide network that can connect national information with local support.
NAMI reported this annual HelpLine reach when announcing its 2025 accreditation.
The HelpLine began as a direct path into NAMI programs and mental health resources.
Impact in practice
In 2025, NAMI announced that its HelpLine received International Council for Helplines accreditation. The review examined governance, training, program management, and crisis-intervention best practices, giving people an additional signal that the service operates against an external quality framework.
Source: NAMI: HelpLine accreditation announcementPrivacy and device safety
Official links and connected reading
Mello Zone directory statement
Mello Zone is not a crisis center, healthcare provider, counseling service, treatment locator, or substitute for licensed care. This profile summarizes publicly available information and provides direct links to the independent organization.
