NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a FREE 8 week mental health, wellness and recovery class open to any adult (18+) with a mental health condition. It provides participants with education, skills and support to enhance their lives. Participants learn how to strengthen relationships, balance changing health care needs and better understand their mental health and recovery.
NAMI Peer-to-Peer is facilitated by a team of trained peers who make mental health and wellness a priority in their daily lives. They share information, facilitate discussions and teach participants new skills that lead to self-awareness and personal growth.
Who can take the course:
Any adult (18+) with a mental health condition is eligible to attend NAMI Peer-to-Peer. No official diagnosis is required.
Goals of the course
NAMI Peer-to-Peer is facilitated by a team of trained peers who make mental health and wellness a priority in their daily lives. They share information, facilitate discussions and teach participants new skills that lead to self-awareness and personal growth.
Who can take the course:
Any adult (18+) with a mental health condition is eligible to attend NAMI Peer-to-Peer. No official diagnosis is required.
Goals of the course
- Set a vision and goals for the future
- Partner with health care providers
- Develop confidence for making decisions
- Practice relaxation and stress reduction tools
- Share their stories
- Strengthen relationships
- Enhance communication skills
- Learn about mental health treatment options
Register NOW for Upcoming Zoom Classes!
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NAMI's Peer to Peer is an 8-week wellness class that consists of interactive lectures, group exercises, and educational videos presented in a safe and nonjudgmental space where you will always be greeted with sincere, uncritical acceptance. Our Peer to Peer Leaders have struggled with their own mental health challenges in the past and they are eager to share with you what has helped keep them in wellness.
Sign up today and join us for an amazing journey of self discovery that will lead you on the path to wellness!
NAMI's Peer to Peer is an 8-week wellness class that consists of interactive lectures, group exercises, and educational videos presented in a safe and nonjudgmental space where you will always be greeted with sincere, uncritical acceptance. Our Peer to Peer Leaders have struggled with their own mental health challenges in the past and they are eager to share with you what has helped keep them in wellness.
Sign up today and join us for an amazing journey of self discovery that will lead you on the path to wellness!
Our NAMI Peer to Peer Class is brought to you by NAMI Okaloosa Walton in partnership with NAMI Pensacola, NAMI Bay and NAMI Tallahassee. Together, we service Northwest Florida from Pensacola through Tallahassee and still welcome anyone, from anywhere to join our Peer to Peer Zoom Class! Sign up below! |
Curriculum content:
Class 1 Getting started: Mental health and recovery: Presents a variety of viewpoints on mental health and recovery, participants create a personal visions statement and practice diaphragmatic breathing
Class 2 The brain and the body: Explores how the environment and the brain impact mental health, participants learn about and create SMART goals
Class 3 Telling my story: Participants share personal stories, explore the benefits and limitations of mental health diagnoses and practice a progressive relaxation technique
Class 4 Strengthening relationships: Focuses on relationships and effective communication, participants practice using “I” statements
Class 5 Growing support networks: Explores how to maintain a vibrant social support network, participants experience a guided visualization activity
Class 6 Tools for enhancing recovery: Covers stress management, different types of therapies and medications
Class 7 My story, my strengths: Participants reframe personal stories and prepare for conversations with mental health providers, participants learn and practice a new breathing technique
Class 8 Moving forward: Participants revision their personal vision and goals, learn a new problem-solving technique and plan for next steps
What participants are saying about NAMI Peer-to-Peer
“I am now aware that I’m not alone. I’d like to become more involved with NAMI and advocacy.”
“I’ve really learned how to cope with my triggers better, and I’m now on the path to truly loving myself.”
“NAMI Peer-to-Peer gave me hope when I was close to giving up. I realized that things can and do get better and that my mental health condition doesn’t define me. I learned how to speak up for myself, build a strong support network and make plans for my future. I felt welcome and like I was among friends. Most importantly, I felt heard and understood.”
“I’ve learned how to communicate with my parents about what’s going on with me.”
“It was really nice being with people who understood.”
The original NAMI Peer-to-Peer program was authored by Kathryn McNulty, a former mental health care provider and person with a mental health condition. The development of later editions of the program has been overseen by Sarah O’Brien, also a peer in recovery.
NAMI Peer-to-Peer has been available in Spanish as De Persona a Persona de NAMI since 2006. All references to NAMI Peer-to-Peer include De Persona a Persona de NAMI unless noted otherwise.
Program data
Year launched:
NAMI Peer-to-Peer: 2001
De Persona a Persona de NAMI: 2006
States offering: 36
Foreign countries offering: Mexico, Italy
National trainers: 3
State trainers: 123
Leaders trained (total): 4,500+
Average annual leaders trained: 250
Participants (total): 48,000+
Average annual participants: 2,600
Research
Pilot study on 8-session version:
Study on program effectiveness: 10-session version
Class 1 Getting started: Mental health and recovery: Presents a variety of viewpoints on mental health and recovery, participants create a personal visions statement and practice diaphragmatic breathing
Class 2 The brain and the body: Explores how the environment and the brain impact mental health, participants learn about and create SMART goals
Class 3 Telling my story: Participants share personal stories, explore the benefits and limitations of mental health diagnoses and practice a progressive relaxation technique
Class 4 Strengthening relationships: Focuses on relationships and effective communication, participants practice using “I” statements
Class 5 Growing support networks: Explores how to maintain a vibrant social support network, participants experience a guided visualization activity
Class 6 Tools for enhancing recovery: Covers stress management, different types of therapies and medications
Class 7 My story, my strengths: Participants reframe personal stories and prepare for conversations with mental health providers, participants learn and practice a new breathing technique
Class 8 Moving forward: Participants revision their personal vision and goals, learn a new problem-solving technique and plan for next steps
What participants are saying about NAMI Peer-to-Peer
“I am now aware that I’m not alone. I’d like to become more involved with NAMI and advocacy.”
“I’ve really learned how to cope with my triggers better, and I’m now on the path to truly loving myself.”
“NAMI Peer-to-Peer gave me hope when I was close to giving up. I realized that things can and do get better and that my mental health condition doesn’t define me. I learned how to speak up for myself, build a strong support network and make plans for my future. I felt welcome and like I was among friends. Most importantly, I felt heard and understood.”
“I’ve learned how to communicate with my parents about what’s going on with me.”
“It was really nice being with people who understood.”
The original NAMI Peer-to-Peer program was authored by Kathryn McNulty, a former mental health care provider and person with a mental health condition. The development of later editions of the program has been overseen by Sarah O’Brien, also a peer in recovery.
NAMI Peer-to-Peer has been available in Spanish as De Persona a Persona de NAMI since 2006. All references to NAMI Peer-to-Peer include De Persona a Persona de NAMI unless noted otherwise.
Program data
Year launched:
NAMI Peer-to-Peer: 2001
De Persona a Persona de NAMI: 2006
States offering: 36
Foreign countries offering: Mexico, Italy
National trainers: 3
State trainers: 123
Leaders trained (total): 4,500+
Average annual leaders trained: 250
Participants (total): 48,000+
Average annual participants: 2,600
Research
Pilot study on 8-session version:
- Initial research is currently underway
- Principal Investigator: NAMI El Paso and Kristin Kosyluk, Ph.D., CRC, Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of Texas at El Paso
Study on program effectiveness: 10-session version
- Dates of study: 2005 - 2006
- Researcher: Alicia Lucksted, Ph.D
- Findings: Study concluded that “NAMI Peer-to-Peer participants benefited in areas directly tied to the curriculum, specifically knowledge and management of their condition, feelings of being less powerless and more confident, connection with others, and completion of an advance directive.”
- Published: Psychiatric Services, February 2009