NAMI Programs
Across the country, thousands of trained NAMI volunteers bring peer-led programs to a wide variety of community settings, from churches to schools to NAMI Affiliates. With the unique understanding of people with lived experience, these programs and support groups provide outstanding free education, skills training and support.
Classes
NAMI Frederick offers a variety of classes for individuals, families, significant others, and friends of people with mental health conditions. These classes teach the basics of mental health conditions, increase coping skills, and empower participants to become advocates for themselves or loved ones.​
NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session educational program for family, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. Research shows that the program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to a person with a mental health condition.
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NAMI Family-to-Family is taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there, and includes presentations, discussions and interactive exercises.
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What You’ll Gain
NAMI Family-to-Family not only provides information and strategies for taking care of the person you love, but you’ll also find out that you’re not alone. Recovery is a journey, and there is hope.​ The group setting of NAMI Family-to-Family provides mutual support and shared positive impact—experience compassion and reinforcement from people who understand your situation and sharing your own experience may help others in your class.
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In the program, you’ll learn about:
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How to solve problems and communicate effectively
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Taking care of yourself and managing your stress
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Supporting your loved one with compassion
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Finding and using local supports and services
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Up-to-date information on mental health conditions and how they affect the brain
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How to handle a crisis
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Current treatments and therapies
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The impact of mental health conditions on the entire family
NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a free, eight-session educational program for adults with mental health conditions who are looking to better understand themselves and their recovery.
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Taught by trained leaders with lived experience, this program includes activities, discussions and informative videos. However, as with all NAMI programs, it does not include recommendations for treatment approaches.
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What You’ll Gain
NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a safe, confidential space. The course provides an opportunity for mutual support and growth. Experience compassion and understanding from people who relate to your experiences. This is a place to learn more about recovery in an accepting environment.
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NAMI Peer-to-Peer helps you:
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Set a vision and goals for the future
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Partner with health care providers
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Develop confidence for making decisions
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Practice relaxation and stress reduction tools
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Share your story
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Strengthen relationships
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Enhance communication skills
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Learn about mental health treatment options
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NAMI Frederick County will be adding an in person class soon. In the meantime, if you are interested, there might be a virtual option available. Please let us know if you are interested and we will get you more information.
Support Groups
NAMI’s support groups follow a structured model to ensure you and others in the group have an opportunity to be heard and to be helped. All NAMI Frederick support groups are free and confidential.
NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences.
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By sharing your experiences in a safe setting, you can gain hope and develop supportive relationships. This group encourages empathy, productive discussion and a sense of community.
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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.
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Free of cost to participants
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Designed for adult loved ones of people with mental health conditions
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Led by family members of people with mental health conditions
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60-90 minutes long and meets weekly, every other week or monthly (varies by location)
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No specific medical therapy or treatment is endorsed
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Confidential
NAMI Connection Support Group is a free weekly 90-minute support group run by persons who live with mental illness for other adults (18+) who live with mental illness.
The program includes NAMI-trained peer facilitators and employs principles of support designed to empower its members. This program focuses on allowing all participants to share their experiences and learn from each other in a safe and confidential environment. NAMI Connection is not illness specific.
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NAMI’s support groups are unique because they follow a structured model to ensure you and others in the group have an opportunity to be heard and to get what you need.
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Free of cost to participants
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Designed for adults (18+) with mental health conditions
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Led by people with mental health conditions
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90 minutes long and meets weekly, every other week or monthly (varies by location)
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No specific medical therapy or treatment is endorsed
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Confidential
Presentations & Community Outreach
NAMI Frederick has a variety of educational resources for individuals living with mental illness and for their family members or supporters. We offer two presentations given to the public as well as outreach participation in community and corporate events. See below for more information and contact us to request a presentation.
NAMI Ending the Silence is a presentation designed for middle and high school students, school staff, and parents or guardians of middle or high school aged youth.
NAMI In Our Own Voice is a presentation for the general public to promote awareness of mental health conditions and recovery.
NAMI Outreach volunteers are available for community events to foster mental health awareness. Outreach training is available for NAMI members who would like to volunteer to help us with outreach. Contact us to have a NAMI representative participate in an event or to become a NAMI outreach volunteer.
Training
NAMI Smarts for Advocacy is a skill-building training that helps people affected by mental health conditions turn their passion and lived experience into skillful grassroots advocacy.
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A NAMI Smarts workshop engages participants in hands-on learning to build and strengthen skills to engage in issue advocacy. Whether someone is new to advocacy or has years of experience, people will leave the workshop with messages, step-by-step tools and the practice they need to feel ready to make a difference.
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NAMI Smarts for Advocacy begins with its core skill: Telling Your Story. This module guides participants through writing and delivering a compelling version of their story that will serve as the starting point for their issue advocacy.
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As with all NAMI programs, SMARTS for Advocacy is a free training. Contact Us for the next available training session.
NAMI Frederick Calendar
Additional NAMI programs
NAMI has additional programs that may be of interest. NAMI Frederick is currently offering the classes, support groups, presentations, outreach and advocacy as noted above. With community interest, support, and more trained volunteers, we would like expand to offer some of these programs locally.
If there is immediate interest for any of the programs listed below, there might be virtual options or adjacent counties with in person programs.
Please contact us if you have interest in any of our programs offerings or would like to find a program we do not have yet and we can help reach out to find what is being offered. ​
NAMI Basics OnDemand is a free, online program – available 24/7 – is designed to empower parents and caregivers of young people (ages 22 and younger) with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to navigate the challenges of youth mental health.
We are seeking student leaders at FCC, Hood College and Mount St Mary's University for student led NAMI On Campus starting in 2026. These students will receive training and support from NAMI. Contact us for more information.
NAMI FaithNet is an interfaith resource network of NAMI members, friends, clergy and congregations of all faith traditions who wish to encourage faith communities who are welcoming and supportive of persons and families living with mental illness.
Although NAMI Homefront, geared to supporting veterans, is not formally offered in Frederick County at this time, Platoon 22 is offering support groups and other services to our local veteran community.
Your bravery and selflessness protect the health and safety of everyone. Your mental health and wellness matter, and we are here to help provide support. NAMI Frontline Wellness offers resources and tools developed specifically for public safety and health care professionals and their family members.
Coming soon to NAMI Frederick
NAMI StigmaFree Workplace offers employers and employees alike with no-cost resources and tools to prioritize mental well-being. We are looking for volunteers interested in training and supporting this program to be offered in Frederick County, Maryland. Contact us if interested. In the meantime, please download the "Navigating a Mental Health Crisis at Work" resource guide here.
