Not long ago, my wife and I attended the “Family to Family” program offered by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The program is a class which is targeted to help family, significant others and friends of people with a mental health condition.
Taking this class had been our bucket list for several years. I’ve heard more than a few people say they found the program “life-changing,” so we were very intrigued to see what the program was all about.
With the pandemic going on, the class was being offered online by our local NAMI affiliate. Since we were spending most of our time at home anyway, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to take the class.
Here’s a quick review of our experience with Family to Family, which I’ve structured as a list of 10 things you may not know about the program.
It’s been around for decades. The program was developed by former NAMI leader and clinical psychologist Dr. Joyce Burland in 1991. Burland’s sister and daughter both struggled with mental illness.
It’s been widely disseminated. The program has been taught to hundreds of thousands of people and the curriculum has been translated into several different languages.
It’s a 20 hour program. The program runs for 8 weeks. Each session lasts 2.5 hours and is a mix of instruction by group leaders and discussion by the group members.
It’s comprehensive. There are extensive written workbooks that accompany each session. Topics (as listed on the NAMI website) include:
- 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
It’s evidence based. Research has shown that family members who completed the program showed improved ability to cope, more knowledge about mental health concerns and greater feelings of empowerment. The program was listed in the National Registry of Evidence-Based Practice.
It’s taught by NAMI-trained family members. This is a unique feature of the program. All class leaders must also be a family member of a person with a mental health condition. It’s also preferred that they be graduates of the Family to Family program. They have to complete a 1.5 day training program to become a class leader.
It allows time for sharing. While a significant portion of each class is taught by the group leaders, there is ample time each session for attendees to talk about their family member, share concerns, and ask questions.
It provides support. The Family to Family program is a psychoeducational class and not structured as a support group, but it is certainly a supportive environment, as group members and leaders support one another while providing validation and encouragement.
It’s free. Yes, free, which is incredible for a 20-hour educational program with hundreds of pages of useful materials and resources.
It’s somewhere close to you. There are Family to Family classes in cities and towns throughout the country. This locator can help you find a class.
I can’t say enough good things about the NAMI Family to Family program. Although my wife and I aren’t caring for a family member with a mental health condition, we found the class incredibly beneficial, particularly from our perspective as mental health providers.
The Family to Family program provides a wealth of current, useful information and a welcoming environment along with abundant support for all attendees. If you or someone you know is struggling with how to care for a loved one with a mental health condition, Family to Family will surely be of great benefit.
Here’s a question: Who do you know that might benefit from attending the Family to Family program? Please leave a comment. Also, please subscribe to my blog and feel free to follow me on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram, “like” my Facebook page, or connect on LinkedIn. Finally, if you enjoyed this post, please share it with a friend.