“I have a better understanding of how mental illness impacts the person affected … it was nice to hear the stories of the instructors and their paths. The handbook (eBook) given has a lot of helpful information which I did not know about.”
— A Family & Friends Seminar Participant
Join Us at Our Next Seminar
Upcoming Seminars
Para Familiares y Amigos - West Liberty. Jueves 12 de septiembre.
Se servirá la cena 5:30 p.m. Presentación 6-7:30 p.m. Se proporcionará cuidado de niños.
In Person: Kewanee - Thursday, September 19 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Hill Church, 107 N. Main Street
Hybrid - Davenport: Monday, October 14 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Via Zoom or Davenport Public Library, Fairmount Branch
In Person: Rock Island - Wednesday, November 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Rock Island Public Library – Watts-Midtown Branch
Our Family & Friends seminars are led by trained people with lived experience of supporting a family member with a mental health condition. They will walk you through the following topics:
- Understanding diagnoses, treatment and recovery
- Effective communication strategies
- The importance of self-care
- Crisis preparation strategies
- NAMI and community resources
Additional Resources
Once you have completed the Family & Friends seminar, we’ll email you a companion eBook. It provides important information about mental health conditions, including: conditions and diagnoses, treatment and recovery, crisis planning, resources and more.
Mental Health Seminars
Our Family & Friends seminar gives you the opportunity to engage in mental health discussions with others. This is our front door*. A friendly hello to help those looking for answers. You may be looking for information on mood disorders, suicidal behavior, suicide prevention, mental disorders, treatment of mental illnesses, or how to access health services. We offer virtual seminars to better serve the eastern Iowa and western Illinois region.
Monthly seminars are held in person and/or via Zoom for 90 minutes each and all participants will receive the companion eBook at the end. All seminars are led by trained facilitators who have lived (or are living) the experience of supporting a family member with a mental health condition.
Some of the things you’ll learn during these seminars:
- Understanding diagnoses, treatment options, and a path for recovery
- Effective communication strategies
- The importance of self-care
- Crisis preparation strategies
- NAMI’s many resources and other community resources
Mental Health Awareness
Presentations
- ‘Ending the Silence’ is a presentation about mental health conditions in youth. Available for three audiences: students, families and school staff. All versions educate about warning signs, what to do and the importance of early intervention.
- ‘In Our Own Voice’ is presented to the general public. It uses personal stories to promote awareness of mental health conditions and the possibility of recovery. Also available in Spanish.
- 'Provider Seminar’ is a 4-hour presentation for staff at facilities providing mental health treatment services. It introduces audiences to NAMI and to the unique perspectives of people affected by mental illness.
Community Mental Health Care Resources
- Quad Cities Behavioral Health Coalition - a consortium of 60+ social service, health care and funding organizations from Scott and Rock Island Counties.
- County mental health and disabilities service providers i.e. Eastern Iowa Mental Health Region; Rock Island and Henry County Mental Health 708 Boards; Muscatine and Henry Counties Dept. of Public Health.
- Behavioral health providers including UnityPoint Robert Young Center, Eagle View Behavioral Health, Rosecrance and Vera French CMHC.
- Community-based organizations including St. Paul Lutheran Church and Heritage Church.
Community Events
NAMI fights stigma and discrimination through individual advocacy and community events like Mental Illness Awareness Week and NAMIWalks.
NAMI also produces publications including our quarterly magazine “The Advocate,” brochures and policy reports.
Mental Health Support
Because family members often feel broken-hearted, ashamed, guilty, responsible, nervous and helpless, you deserve support, too. You deserve to understand what your loved one is going through. You deserve communication skills that make support possible. You deserve to know that this is not your fault and you are not alone.
NAMI Family & Friends is a free mental health seminar that teaches family members how to best support their loved ones living with a mental health condition. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet people in similar situations and have that additional community support if desired.
The Family & Friends program is delivered by a team of certified NAMI family educators who understand your situation because they, too, have been through something similar. Their goal is to offer practical skills and information to address your immediate concerns until you can get to other resources. The format is more sharing-centric rather than teaching-centric and the atmosphere is casual but professional. With NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley, you will always be in a safe, respectful and confidential environment.
Recovery is individual and looks different for everyone. Some of the things you’ll learn during the seminar:
- Understanding the warning signs of mental health conditions, treatment options and a path for recovery
- Effective communication strategies and empathy
- Coping techniques and the importance of self-care
- Crisis preparation strategies
- NAMI’s many resources and other community resources
Monthly seminars for those living in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas are now held via Zoom for 90 minutes each. All participants will receive the companion eBook via email post-seminar. It provides important information about mental health conditions, specifically warning signs and diagnoses, treatment and recovery, crisis planning and various other resources. All are welcome!
NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley
Suzanne Robinson, MSW, Assistant Director of NAMI’s National Education Programs and developer of the NAMI Family & Friends seminar recalls one NAMI State Director saying that he was simultaneously “always surprised by NAMI people and never surprised by NAMI people.” Suzanne explains, “What he meant was that no matter the situation, NAMI members act with compassion. They reach out to people who are isolated and offer support, education and empathy. NAMI members fight the discrimination that too often surrounds mental health conditions.” She is right, as we will never stop fighting for you!
We are the local affiliate of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), a grassroots organization dedicated to educating everyone – from young people to mature adults – that mental health conditions are treatable and recovery is possible. The earlier they are detected, the better. Early detection, treatment and recovery aren’t just for cancer patients. They are for us, too.
* Participants start with mental health seminars as a one-time attendance. During the seminar, you are referred to our NAMI education and support programs, as well as other community resources.
