NAMI Havre support groups open as of Monday

Press release

NAMI Havre announced its support group is open as of Monday.

People with questions can call the office at 262-7653 and are asked to leave a message if NAMI Havre representatives can’t answer the phone at that time.

The office, at the 305 Building Suite 213 at 305 Third Ave., is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A release says NAMI’s support groups are unique because they follow a structured model, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to be heard and to get what they need.

The groups are:

• Free of cost to participants

• Designed for adult loved ones of people with mental health conditions

• Led by family members of people with mental health conditions

• 60-90 minutes long and meet weekly, every other week or monthly, which varies by location

• No specific medical therapy or treatment is endorsed

• Confidential. By sharing their experiences in a safe setting, people can gain hope and develop supportive relationships. This group allows their voice to be heard and provides an opportunity for their personal needs to be met. It encourages empathy, productive discussion and a sense of community. People will benefit from other’s experiences, discover their inner strength and empower themself by sharing their own experiences in a non-judgmental space.

NAMI Family Support Group, which will meet Sundays 2-3 p.m. starting June 14, will help people aim for better coping skills:

• Find strength in sharing experiences

• Not judge anyone’s pain

• Forgive themselves and reject guilt

• Embrace humor as healthy

• Accept that people cannot solve every problem.

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental health.

NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope for all of those in need. NAMI offers support and education programs for families and individuals living with mental health conditions. NAMI recognizes that the key concepts of recovery, resiliency and support are essential to improving the wellness and quality of life of all persons affected by mental illness.

“We educate.” a page at the NAMI website at https://www.nami.org says. “Offered in thousands of communities across the United States through NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates, our education programs ensure hundreds of thousands of families, individuals and educators get the support and information they need.

“We advocate,” it continues. “NAMI shapes national public policy for people with mental illness and their families and provides volunteer leaders with the tools, resources and skills necessary to save mental health in all states.

“We listen,” it says. “Our toll-free NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI — 6264 — or [email protected] allows us to respond personally to hundreds of thousands of requests each year, providing free information and support—a much-needed lifeline for many.

“We lead,” the “What We Do” section concludes. “Public awareness events and activities, including Mental Illness Awareness Week and NAMIWalks, successfully fight stigma and encourage understanding. NAMI works with reporters on a daily basis to make sure our country understands how important mental health is.”