NAMI Michigan

NAMI Connection is a recovery support group program for adults living with mental illness that is expanding in communities throughout the country. These groups provide a place that offers respect, understanding, encouragement, and hope.

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NAMI Connection groups offer a casual and relaxed approach to sharing the challenges and successes of coping with mental illness. Each group:

Meets weekly for 90 minutes

Is offered free of charge

Follows a flexible structure without an educational format

Does not recommend or endorse any medications or other medical therapies

All groups are confidential – participants can share as much or as little personal information as they wish.

Meetings will be guided by NAMI Connection’s Principles of Support.

NAMI Connection is supported by AstraZeneca

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

IOOV is an opportunity for those who have struggled with mental illness to gain confidence and to share their individual experiences of recovery and transformation.

Throughout the IOOV presentation, audience members are encouraged to offer feedback and ask questions. Audience participation is an important aspect of IOOV because the more audience members become involved, the closer they come to understanding what it is like to live with a mental illness and stay in recovery.

IOOV presentations are given to consumer groups, students, law enforcement officials, educators, providers, faith community members, politicians, professionals, inmates, and interested civic groups.

All presentations are offered free of charge.

The goals of IOOV are to:

meet the need for consumer- run initiatives

to set a standard for quality education about mental illness from those who have been there

to offer genuine work opportunities

to encourage self-confidence and self-esteem in presenters to focus on recovery and the message of hope.

Research has demonstrated that people living with severe psychiatric conditions may have an increased risk of heart disease and related conditions. For this reason NAMI has designed the Hearts & Minds program:

A 13-minute, inspirational video and a 26-page booklet. The purpose of the program is to raise awareness and provide information on: diabetes, diet, exercise, and smoking.

The program also includes basic information on addictions, recovery, stigma, and treatment. Along with information on diabetes and sleep apnea, Hearts & Minds contains tips for exercise, diet — including a shopping list template, recipes, and a food diary.

What is NAMI Basics?

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. Classes may be offered weekly for six consecutive weeks, or may be offered twice per week for three weeks to accommodate the hectic schedules of parents. All instruction materials are FREE to participants.

What are the goals of the NAMI Basics program?

To give the parent/caregiver the basic information necessary to take the best care possible of their child, their family, and themself.

To help the parent/caregiver cope with the impact that mental illness has on the child living with the illness and the entire family.

To provide tools for the parent/caregiver to use even after completing the program that will assist in making the best decisions possible for the care of the child.

What does the course include?

Introduction to the stages of emotional reactions of the family to the of mental illness; including crisis, shock, denial, grief and acceptance.

Insights into understanding of the lived experience of the child living with the mental illness, including learning to separate the child you love from the illness that alters their behavior and abilities

Current information about Attention Deficit Disorder, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Childhood Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse Disorders

Current research related to the biology of mental illness and the evidence-based, most effective treatment strategies available, including medications used to treat mental illness in children and adolescents

Specific workshops to learn problem solving, listening and communication skills

Examples of strategies that have been found helpful in handling challenging behaviors in children and adolescents

Information about the systems that are major players in the lives of children and adolescents with mental illness – the school system and the mental health system

Exposure to personal record keeping systems that have proven to be effective for parents/caregivers in their interactions with the school and healthcare systems

Information on planning for crisis management and relapse

Information on locating appropriate supports and services within the community to build a community of support for the parent/caregiver

Information on advocacy initiatives designed to improve and expand services, with an emphasis on personal advocates for the parent/caregiver and child on an individual level

What is NAMI’s Family-to-Family Program?

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 evidenced-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

NAMI Smarts is an interactive workshop designed to teach individuals how to effectively advocate for issues they believe in at the local level, state and federal levels.

You will learn to:

Harness the power of your personal story to affect change in your community

Successfully meet with legislators

Write compelling emails and letters to the public