A vital state resource for individuals and families facing the challenges of mental illness, providing free mental health family-based education, family and peer support and grassroots advocacy. Founded in 1982 and tax-exempt 501(c)(3) in 1999.
NAMI Mass offers the following education and support programs, all of which are free of charge to participants.
The NAMI Family-to-Family education program is a 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals with mental illness. The Family-to-Family curriculum utilizes a variety of teaching techniques and includes a broad range of topics such as: Information about specific disorders; coping skills, handling crisis and relapse; listening and communication techniques; and problem solving and limit setting; rehabilitation. For more information please visit: http://www.namimass.org/programs/nami-family-to-family.
NAMI Basics education program is the new signature six class course for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illnesses who developed the symptoms of mental illness prior to the age of 13. For more information please visit: For more inormation please visit: http://www.namimass.org/programs/nami-basics.
NAMI In Our Own Voice (IOOV) is a presentation given by trained people in recovery. It includes a videotape, personal testimony and discussion. It enriches the audience’s understanding of how people in recovery cope with the reality of their illnesses while recovering and reclaiming productive lives. For more information please visit: http://www.namimass.org/programs/nami-in-our-own-voice.
NAMI Connection is a weekly peer recovery support group 90 minute meeting for people in recovery where experiences, coping strategies, and encouragement and understanding are shared. For more information visit http://www.namimass.org/programs/nami-connection-recovery-support-groups2.
NAMI Family Support Group for Caregivers is a monthly support group 90 minute meeting for family members and other caregivers of individuals with mental illness. NAMI Connection and NAMI Family support group for caregivers are facilitated by trained volunteer peers and are located all across the Commonwealth. 39 support groups were offered statewide and approximately 585 people were helped in 2010. For more information please visit http://www.namimass.org/programs/nami-caregiver-support-groups.
The Crisis Intervention and Diversion Project seeks to prevent the unnecessary arrest, detention, and incarceration of individuals who live with mental illness. In order to effect this social change, the Project will develop a statewide strategy to create and promote high quality police and first responder training programs on interacting with persons living with mental illness. For more details and resources please visit http://www.namimass.org/programs/nami-mass-crisis-intervention-and-diversion-project.
The NAMI Mass helpline is where callers, from around the Commonwealth and out of state, find an empathetic ear with a helpful yet professional demeanor. We listen and direct them to the resources they need. Our resource library has many publications (some in Spanish and Chinese) all available to the public free of charge.
The NAMI Mass website is where anyone with access to the internet can access an abundance of information and assistance anytime.
The mission of NAMI Massachusetts is to improve the quality of life both for people with mental illnesses and for their families.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Massachusetts (NAMI Mass) is a nonprofit grassroots advocacy, education and support organization. Founded in 1982 and obtaining 501(c) (3) status in 1999, the mission of NAMI Mass is to support individuals with mental illness and their families; advocate for nondiscriminatory and equitable federal, state and private-sector policies; and educate the public to eliminate the pervasive stigma surrounding mental illness.
See "Description" for the many education and support programs we offer free to participants.
