NAMI On Campus @ UC San Diego

Service & Changemaking. NAMI On Campus @ UC San Diego is a student-led chapter of NAMI On Campus that focuses on mental health awareness, education, peer support, and advocacy on campus. Founded in 1979, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. It provides education, advocacy, and support to people and families affected by mental illness, with many programs partly supported by federal grants. Our chapter hosts regular general meetings with guest speakers and skill-building sessions, organizes stigma-reduction and wellness events, connects students to NAMI services and crisis resources, and builds leadership pathways through volunteer opportunities with our local affiliate and community partners. Members take part in meaningful service in partnership with NAMI San Diego & Imperial Counties through outreach events and the Friends in the Lobby program, and each year we organize a NAMIWalks team that brings students together around stigma reduction and community support. By learning, serving, and leading, members gain practical experience, community, and professional development, while the broader campus benefits from increased mental-health literacy, stronger connections to care, and a more compassionate culture.