Registration is now open for the Summer 2025 Family-to-Family class at NAMI Finger Lakes. Visit https://www.namifingerlakes.org/nami-family-to-family for more information and to register.

This 8-week class will meet in person each Wednesday 5:30-8 p.m. from July 23 through September 10 at the South Hill Business Campus (950 Danby Road) in Ithaca.

The class is free and registration is required. Space is limited and classes fill up quickly. Register today by going to https://www.namifingerlakes/nami-family-to-family

What is NAMI Family-to-Family?

NAMI Family-to-Family is an 8-session education program for family members, partners or friends with a relative or loved one with a mental health condition, even if the condition is not diagnosed. It is available free to participants and taught by trained family members of people with a mental health condition. The class offers insights into the impact mental health conditions have on the entire family, combats discrimination, and promotes healing. It is designed to help family members and friends understand and support their loved one while maintaining their own well-being.

Participants improve their self-care and communication skills, learn problem-solving techniques, and how to better advocate for their loved one.

The goals of NAMI Family-to-Family are:

Provide current information about mental health conditions and how they affect the brain;
Provide materials about treatment options, including evidence-based therapies, medications and side effects;
Develop skills in effective communication, problem solving and crisis preparation;
Promote self-care and stress management for the family member/caregiver;
Share local, state and national mental health resources.

Multiple research studies have shown that participants of the NAMI Family-to-Family class:

Demonstrate significantly greater overall empowerment as well as empowerment within their family, the service system and their community;
Possess greater knowledge of mental illness;
Maintain higher rating of coping skills;
Experience lower ratings of anxiety related to being able to control conditions;
Have higher reported levels of problem solving skills related to family functioning.

This class can be extremely valuable and life changing.

For more information and to register visit https://www.namifingerlakes.org/nami-family-to-family or email support@namifingerlakes.org with any questions or concerns.

Who is NAMI Finger Lakes?

NAMI Finger Lakes is the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), covering Tompkins and Cortland Counties. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization with over 600 state and local affiliates. NAMI provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives. NAMI Finger Lakes has been educating and supporting our community in mental health related issues since 1986. Visit www.namifingerlakes.org for more information on our programs and services and how you can get involved.

NAMI Family-to-Family Class