Good news about the NAMI Homefront program: a new study shows that it produces significant benefits for both in-person and online participants. The study published in Psychiatric Services, a journal of the American Psychiatric Association, found that participants in both formats experienced improvements in empowerment, coping, psychological distress, family functioning, the experience of caregiving, and knowledge of mental illness. (More from the NAMI press release.)
The NAMI Homefront program is an adaptation of the evidence-based NAMI Family-to-Family program designed to address the unique needs of family, caregivers, and friends of active duty military service members and veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other mental health conditions. The free program consists of six 2.5-hour peer-taught sessions. Since launching in 2014, the program has enrolled more than 2,500 individuals (1,100 in person, 1,470 online).
Contact your local NAMI California affiliate to find out about if the program is currently being offered by your community, or find out about taking the class online.