NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness. Groups generally meet on a monthly basis but may meet weekly. The hallmark of a NAMI support group is leveraging the collective knowledge and experience of the other participants.

What You Should Expect

• Meets monthly or weekly for 90-minute sessions free of charge.
• Designed for loved ones (18 and over) of individuals living with mental illness.
• Facilitated by a trained team of family members of individuals living with mental illness.
• Confidential — share as much or as little personal information as you want.
• Does not recommend or endorse any medications or other medical therapies for your family member.
• Guided by Principles of Support.

Why You Should Attend

Reinforcement in an environment of sincere, uncritical acceptance

At each meeting, you review the Group Guidelines and Principles of Support and update the group on the current events in your life, then spend the bulk of the meeting in group discussion, or ‘group work’. The group addresses urgent issues of its members and participants share their learned experience, or ‘group wisdom’. As a participant, your voice is heard, and you can contribute to a dynamic that encourages empathy, productive discussion and a sense of community.

Tools for caring for yourself and for your loved one

The support group can offer you practical advice on addressing issues related to mental illness and your loved one. It also gives you the appropriate space to have your personal needs met so that you can provide the best possible care for your family member. Taking time to voice your experiences and to hear from others may help you develop your inner reserves of strength. You may gain confidence in your ability to cope with your family member’s mental illness as well as local knowledge on how to best access needed services for your family member.

 The Principles of Support

• We will see the individual first, not the illness.
• We recognize that mental illnesses are medical illnesses that may have environmental triggers.
• We understand that mental illnesses are traumatic events.
• We aim for better coping skills.
• We find strength in sharing experiences.
• We reject stigma and do not tolerate discrimination.
• We won’t judge anyone’s pain as less than our own.
• We forgive ourselves and reject guilt.
• We embrace humor as healthy.
• We accept we cannot solve all problems.
• We expect a better future in a realistic way.
• We will never give up hope.

 What Others Say About NAMI Family Support Group

“Using the [NAMI] support group model is so essential to the success of our family support groups. As a group, the collective wisdom covered a lot of possibilities towards the issues.”

“The most beneficial thing for me was that I am not alone. I found the NAMI Family Support Group at the time I really needed it!”