Find Support

Support Groups For Family and Friends

Our free Support Groups provide support for any adult with a loved one who is living with mental health challenges. Groups are led by trained facilitators with lived experience.

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. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences.

  • Free of cost to participants
  • All discussions are confidential
  • Designed for adult loved ones of people with mental health conditions
  • Led by family members of people with mental health conditions
  • 90 minutes long and monthly
  • No specific medical therapy or treatment is endorsed

NAMI Farmington Valley is proud to offer the following support groups for families:

Calendar View

*NEW*

Southington: 2nd Wednesday, 7:00-8:30pm

IN-PERSON
First Congregational Church, Rooms 201 & 202
37 Main Street, Southington, CT
Contact Facilitators: Dan Gabree, dgabree@gmail.com, 860-385-1533 Amy Truskowsky, amyjeant269@gmail.com. 860-637-5458 or call the church office at 860-628-6958

Avon: 3rd Monday, 7:00-8:30pm

IN-PERSON
Avon Senior Center
635 West Avon Road, Avon, CT
Contact Facilitators: Peg: 860-716-5501 or Mary: 860-462-1679‬

Simsbury: 1st Monday, 7:00-8:30pm

***No meetings in July or September
IN-PERSON
Eno Memorial Hall, Simsbury Senior Center
754 Hopmeadow St #1 (2nd floor), Simsbury, CT
Contact Facilitators: Marisa: 860-299-5705 or Polly: 860-214-3818

Newington: 1st Thursday, 7:00-8:30pm

IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL
This will be a hybrid meeting of in-person and virtual attendees.

In-Person:
Newington Senior Center (Multi-Purpose Room)
120 Cedar St., Newington, CT

Or virtual:
ZOOM Meeting ID: 826 529 942
Contact Facilitator Pat: 860-796-1731 or Facilitator Peg: 860-716-5501
Password: Contact the facilitator listed above or admin@namict.org / (860) 202-4487 

NAMI CAN (Child and Adult Network)

For parents and caregivers of children & adolescents with behavioral health concerns

Canton: 1st Monday, 7:00-8:30pm

VIRTUAL
ZOOM Meeting ID: 811 3948 8309
Facilitator: Jaime (212) 300-3334 or jaime.patten@gmail.com
Teleconference Only – Call: 253-215-8782
Contact: Pat at admin@namict.org for the meeting password

Out of the Abyss Suicide Support

The NAMI Connecticut Out of the Abyss model is an approach to providing group-based peer support to individuals living with suicidal thoughts and/or have made a previous suicide attempt. This group is intended to provide a space to openly share our pain and experiences, to create opportunities to build community, find hope, discover alternative techniques to manage – and heal – from suicide-related urges.

West Hartford: 1st Tuesday, 7:00-8:30pm

IN-PERSON
Westminster Presbyterian Church
2080 Boulevard West Hartford, CT

Led by Grace and Skyler

Contact:  Grace at ggrinnell@namict.org

Please note: This approach to peer support is intended to complement – not replace – therapy/counseling and other professional services, Facilitators are not licensed clinical providers, and therefore are not able to provide emergency medical services, interventions, or treatment. 

More Support Group Offerings from NAMI CT

View the listing on NAMI CT’s website.

Family-to-Family

A nationally recognized FREE 8-week program that provides education on the neurobiological basis of serious mental illnesses, information, resources and support for family members of individuals with serious mental illness based on the lived experiences of other family members.

Program is delivered by trained volunteer family facilitators and is available throughout the state on a regular basis. Classes often fill up quickly. Visit NAMI CT to learn about upcoming classes.

Spring 2025

Wednesdays April 16- June 4
6:30 pm-9:00pm

West Avon Congregational Church
Country Club Rd. Avon, CT

Led by Peter and Peg

Register now

Ending the Silence

NAMI Ending the Silence is an engaging presentation that helps audience members learn about the warning signs of mental health conditions and what steps to take if you or a loved one are showing symptoms of a mental health condition.

Presentations include two leaders: one who shares an informative presentation and a young adult with a mental health condition who shares their journey of recovery. Audience members can ask questions and gain understanding of an often-misunderstood topic. Through dialogue, we can help grow the movement to end stigma.

What Your Audience Will Get

  • Free of cost to schools and communities
  • NAMI Ending the Silence for Students: 50-minute presentation designed for middle and high school students that includes warning signs, facts and statistics and how to get help for themselves or a friend. Research has shown that NAMI Ending the Silence for Students is effective in changing middle and high school students’ knowledge and attitudes toward mental health conditions and toward seeking help
  • NAMI Ending the Silence for School Staff: 1-hour presentation for school staff members that includes information about warning signs, facts and statistics, how to approach students and how to work with families
  • NAMI Ending the Silence for Families: 1-hour presentation for adults with middle or high school aged youth that includes warning signs, facts and statistics, how to talk with your child and how to work with school staff

Learn more about this program on NAMI’s website.

CONTACT US to schedule your school community today.