Individuals living with mental illness in Renton now have local access to free and effective support groups through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

NAMI Connection is a weekly recovery support group open to all adults with mental illness, regardless of diagnosis. The group is free. There is no registration, participants can walk right in.

Confidentiality is respected and participants can share as much or as little personal information as they wish.

Participants can talk freely because the other participants and the facilitators already “get it,” so they do not have to explain themselves.

NAMI has a state organization in all 50 states and more than 1,200 affiliates. The Renton Connection group is authorized by the South King County Affiliate in Kent.

The new Renton meetings are Thursdays at Highlands Community Church, 3031 N.E. 10th St., Room 121, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. For information or directions, call 425-254-3931.