NAMI of Erie County (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Mission

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Erie County, is focused on fostering personal growth and family stability by supporting and educating family members and individuals facing the challenges of mental illness in Erie County.

Programs and Services

• Family-to-Family Program—The Family-to-Family program is a free 12-week program for family members and friends who have a loved one facing the challenges of mental illness. The program teaches participants communication strategies and advocacy techniques, in addition to providing a general mental health education. The program also features many empathy workshops, enabling participants to gain a greater understanding of the challenges their mentally ill loved one is facing. Overall, participants gain a greater understanding of mental health, while gaining skills and tools to increase family support and ensure proper treatment of their loved one.
• Peer-to-Peer Education Program—The Peer-to-Peer is a free 10-week program for individuals facing the challenges of mental illness. The program teaches participants to become an active member of their own treatment plan, increasing their ability to progress towards recovery. Participants learn how to identify the thoughts and behaviors that could indicate a mental health crisis and take action to prevent the crisis from occurring. In addition, the program teaches job skills, such as resume-building strategies, practice job interviews, and interpersonal communication strategies, that assist participants in entering or rejoining the workforce.
• Exploring the Arts with NAMI— This new program, in collaboration with other local agencies, exposes children to different artistic mediums and the positive benefits art can have on mental health, self-esteem, and creativity. Children experience an educational artistic performance and then partake in an activity that utilizes the concepts they have learned. Children gain self-confidence and self-esteem through these activities, increasing their overall mental wellness.
• Community Education Programs—NAMI’s provides community education programs to local school districts, businesses, and organizations. These presentations provide mental health education, such as the signs and symptoms to look for, suicide prevention, as well as available resources in the area. Presentations are customized to each organization’s needs. In the past calendar year, NAMI has positively impacted over 1,000 area high school and college students through these presentations.
• Support Groups—NAMI offers both peer and family support groups. These support groups provide confidential, yet informal, settings for individuals and families to share their stories, seek assistance, and learn about resources available in the Erie region.

Contact

Wendy Jacobs

Send an email | View the website | 814-456-1773

1611 Peach St Suite 218
Erie, Pennsylvania 16501