What does NAMIWalks Support?

NAMIWalks generates funding so NAMIs across the country are able to offer an array of free education and support programs for individuals living with mental illness, family members and loved ones, providers and the general public.  Programs include:

NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is a free, 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses.  The course is taught by trained family members. All instruction and course materials are free to class participants.

NAMI Peer-to-Peer Education Program is a unique, experiential learning program for people with any serious mental illness who are interested in establishing and maintaining their wellness and recovery. The program consists of ten two-hour units and is taught by a team of two trained “Mentors” and a volunteer support person who are personally experienced at living well with mental illness. All instruction and course materials are free to class participants.

NAMI Basics is the new signature education program for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illnesses.  The NAMI Basics course is taught by trained teachers who are the parent or other caregivers of individuals who developed the symptoms of mental illness prior to the age of 13 years. The course consists of six classes, each lasting for 2 ½ hours.  All instruction materials are free to participants.

The NAMIProvider Education Program is a 5-week course that presents a penetrating, subjective view of family and consumer experiences with serious mental illness to line staff at public agencies who work directly with people experiencing severe and persistent mental illnesses. The course helps providers realize the hardships that families and consumers face and appreciate the courage and persistence it takes to live with and recover from mental illness.

The NAMIParents & Teachers As Allies is a two-hour in-service program that helps school professionals identify the early warning signs of early-onset mental illnesses in children and adolescents in schools.  It focuses on the specific, age-related symptoms of mental illnesses in youth, how best to intervene, and shared the lived experiences of consumers and families.

NAMIConnection is a weekly recovery support group for people living with mental illness in which people learn from each others’ experiences, share coping strategies, and offer each other encouragement and understanding.

NAMI FamilySupport Group is for family members and loved ones of someone living with a mental illness. The Group meets once a month.

In Our OwnVoice is a unique public education program developed by NAMI, in which two trained consumer speakers share compelling personal stories about living with mental illness and achieving recovery.

The NAMIHearts & Minds program is an online, interactive, educational initiative promoting the idea of wellness in both mind and body. Wellness is an ongoing process of learning how to make choices that support a more successful, healthy life.

Please visit www.nami.org for additional information on these and other NAMI programs.