The ability of family members to provide a benign, understanding, and predictable environment for their relative is a key factor in the capacity of the family member dealing with the mental health issue to stabilize and remain in the community. Course not only provides basic education and skill training for families, it also gives them the practical and emotional support to sustain themselves in the role as primary caregivers in the community mental health system. NAMI-Oregon also sponsors a support group program. Together with the education program, they provide maximum benefit to the family member. A family member is not required to participate in the educational program in order to participate in the support program.
Families are, however, strongly encouraged to take advantage of both.
Training is available for both people interested in teaching the Family to Family Class and people interested in facilitating a support group. NAMI offers free Start-Up Kits for people interested in starting peer support groups for people dealing with mental health issues and workbooks with basic coping strategy exercises available for review at the library. Anti-Discrimination Campaign dedicated to reducing discrimination faced by people dealing with mental health issues.