NAMI Wake — Free LGBTQ+ Mental Health Support Group Raleigh
The NAMI Wake County LGBT+ Mental Health Support Group is a free, confidential peer support space for LGBTQ+ adults in the Raleigh area who are living with mental health conditions or supporting someone who is. Offered in partnership with the LGBT Center of Raleigh, the group brings together community members in an affirming setting led by trained peer facilitators who share lived experience. It runs continuously throughout the year and is intentionally low-barrier — no diagnosis, no paperwork, no cost.
What to Expect
Meetings are 90 minutes long and follow the NAMI Connection model of safe, structured peer sharing. The virtual group meets on Zoom the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., and the in-person group meets the last Tuesday of every month from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the LGBT Center of Raleigh, 3109 Poplarwood Court, Suite 209, Raleigh, NC 27604. Conversations typically focus on the intersection of identity and mental health, navigating affirming care, family and workplace stress, isolation, coming out at different life stages, and the everyday work of recovery. Facilitators open each meeting with confidentiality guidelines and close with a brief grounding moment. You are welcome to come, sit, and listen for as many sessions as you need before sharing anything yourself.
Who This Group Is For
Open to LGBTQ+ adults 18 and older across the Triangle who want to connect with peers who understand both their identity and their mental health experiences. Members include people newly out, people decades into their identity, people with formal diagnoses, and people simply navigating depression, anxiety, or burnout. Allies are welcome in some sessions; check the registration page for specifics. New members can join at any time, and you are never expected to share more than feels right.
Why Peer Support Works
Hearing from others who have walked a similar path can ease the isolation that often comes with both mental health symptoms and minority stress. Peer support is not a replacement for therapy, but for many LGBTQ+ adults it is the piece that makes everything else stick — a steady, judgment-free space to remember you are not alone, and a place where you do not have to translate your experience before speaking.
How to Join
Registration is required for both the virtual and in-person sessions and is always free. Visit the NAMI Wake County website to sign up for the next meeting and receive the Zoom link or in-person confirmation. Questions can be directed to NAMI Wake County at (919) 848-4490 or support@nami-wake.org. The group runs year-round; if you miss a session, the next one is never more than two weeks away.