NAMI Pensacola is a very active all-volunteer organization. A dedicated and experienced Board of Directors leads the way for a membership primarily consisting of people who have either been affected by mental illness themselves or have family or friends who have experienced a mental condition.
NAMI Pensacola is the local affiliate of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the nation’s leading voice on mental illness. NAMI includes over 1,200 affiliates in every state who join together to meet the NAMI mission through support, advocacy, education, and research for people with mental health conditions, their families, friends and caregivers.
NAMI Pensacola sponsors several valuable ongoing programs for those with a mental health condition.
Due to COVID 19 all NAMI Pensacola in person meetings have been suspended. Zoom meeting information is posted for available online meetings. NAMI Pensacola continues to invite our friends to register for both Family-to-Family and Peer-to-Peer classes. We expect to be able to resume in person programs as soon as CDC guidelines permit gatherings of more than 10 people. Meetings will be held in settings where appropriate distancing can be maintained. Every person registering for a NAMI class will receive a prompt response via email with more information. Please visit www.NAMIsupportgroups.org to register for online groups meetings and classes.
NAMI Connection Peer Support Group meets every Tuesday and Wednesday. Facilitated by trained peers who are living in recovery, NAMI Connection welcomes adults 18 years old or older who are living with mental health conditions. NAMI Connection meets from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
NAMI Family Support Group meets two times every month:
- 1st Tuesday and 4th Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m., CDT
The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is a free eight-week course for family, friends and caregivers of individuals with a mental health comdition. In May 2013, the course was added to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence Based Programs and Practices. It is also recognized by the American Psychiatric Association, said to “significantly” improve coping and problem-solving abilities of family members of individuals living with a mental condition.
The course is taught by NAMI certified trainers in a confidential setting. All instruction and course materials are free for class participants. The curriculum provides current information about schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder (manic depression), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, co-occurring brain disorders and addictive disorders. The series provides knowledge and skills that families, friends and caregivers need to cope better and worry less, while empowering them to navigate health care and political systems. Many family members describe the course as life – changing.
NAMI In Our Own Voice is a presentation by two trained NAMI members who are living in recovery with a mental health condition. In Our Own Voice is intended for the entire community and is appropriate for business lunch-and-learns, civic club programs, and any other group who has an interest in learning more about mental illness and the recovery process.
Sharing Hope is an outreach effort to members of the African American and other cultural communities. Lack of information and misconceptions surrounding mental health issues prevent many members of these communities from getting the help and support they need. NAMI-Pensacola has materials and volunteers available to provide information that can help increase mental health awareness in minority communities.
NAMI FaithNet is a presentation intended for all faith communities. FaithNet is presented by two NAMI members who offer information about NAMI and its signature programs to faith community members who may be struggling with mental health challenges or may be aware of members of the congregation who might benefit from the information. NAMI, a secular organization, recognizes that faith is often an important part of the recovery process.