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Family to Family Coordinator: LeeAnn
Family to Family Facilitators: Kathy, Laura, Lorna, and Dana
NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session educational program for family, significant others, and friends of people with mental health conditions. It is a designated evidence-based program. This means that research shows that the program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to a person with a mental health condition.
NAMI Family-to-Family is taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there and includes presentations, discussions, and interactive exercises.
What You’ll Gain
NAMI Family-to-Family not only provides information and strategies for taking care of the person you love, but you’ll also find out that you’re not alone. Recovery is a journey, and there is hope.
The group setting of NAMI Family-to-Family provides mutual support and shared positive impact—experience compassion and reinforcement from people who understand your situation. Sharing your own experience may help others in your class. In the program, you’ll learn about:
- How to solve problems and communicate effectively
- Taking care of yourself and managing your stress
- Supporting your loved one with compassion
- Finding and using local supports and services
- Up-to-date information on mental health conditions and how they affect the brain
- How to handle a crisis
- Current treatments and therapies
- The impact of mental health conditions on the entire family
What People Are Saying
“The course gave me hope that it will be okay, that I am not alone and reduced a lot of shame, guilt and hopelessness.”
“I wish I’d known about this seven years ago when the problem began. I felt safe in this class. I was able to talk about things I haven’t been comfortable expressing elsewhere.”
“Before I took the course, I felt alone and overwhelmed dealing with my daughter’s mental illness. By taking this course, I have met others who are going through the same things I am and have learned about many resources that I never knew existed.”
“I thought my wife and I knew just about everything there is to know about the system and the illness. Boy, were we wrong. Without a doubt, this is the best support course I have had the privilege of taking part in, bar none.”
Dana’s NAMI Story
Hello, my name is Dana Sullivan. I am a mother of 4 adult children and a grandmother to 3. I retired from 30 years in Law Enforcement. I enjoy all things health and wellness, more specifically; playing pickleball, working out, walking, hiking, bike riding, and golf. I have been with NAMI since 2012.
My adult daughter was born with Cerebral Palsy and developmental delay.
I found NAMI Family to Family class after my adult daughter had been diagnosed with major depression, anxiety and an eating disorder. That class changed my life! It gave me the education I needed regarding a mental health condition, medications, I met others who had been going through similar situations, I had support from genuine people. I have been volunteering with NAMI since 2012 – it truly is a family.
I share my story so that others will know they are not alone in this journey. To help others feel no shame in talking openly about mental health and to let others know about NAMI and the many services they provide. I feel so blessed to have found NAMI F2F, Support groups, and the organization as a whole. I have been a F2F facilitator, a Family Support group facilitator, NAMI Volunteer coordinator, and most recently a Family & Friends Facilitator. NAMI has been my support system and family for many years.
I have learned this journey is a marathon, not a sprint.