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Ten week course for anyone living with a major mental illness interested in maintaining wellness.

You are not alone.  And you’re so much more than your diagnosis.  Join people like you who are interested in learning about recovery.  Gain knowledge and concrete practical skills to manage your life and handle stress. Come to a safe place where peers can share common experiences and learn from each other.

The NAMI Peer-to-Peer Course is a free 10-week course for people living with a major mental illness who are interested in establishing and maintaining their wellness and recovery. It is a university tested evidence-based national educational curriculum. Visit the national website for the NAMI Peer-to-Peer program. The program is now being offered here in Gainesville !  Open to adults age 18 and over.

  • Taught by peers living with a mental illness themselves, and who are successfully managing their own recovery.

  • Peer instructors have been specially trained and certified to teach the course to others, and have completed the course themselves.
  • Only peers may participate; no family members.

  • Instruction and extensive handout materials are free and complement professional mental heath services

  • Best of all -- no tests !
Download additional description and informational bulletin on the next course in Gainesville (PDF download)

Must pre-register (download has details).
Open to adults age 18 and over.

Next course starts: January 25, 2012.
** NOW FULL **
but taking reservations for next set of classes that starts later this year.

Location:1624 NW 5th Avenue, Gainesville

Click Here for Google MAP with Street View of the building.
This is a few blocks from a University Ave Bus Stop. Meeting room is kindly provided by United Church of Gainesville   (Note: The Peer-to-Peer program is not affiliate with any church).

Watch video about the course

What does the course include?

  • Ten two-hour units taught by a team of two trained “Peer Mentors” and a volunteer support person who are personally experienced at living well with a mental illness.

  • Participants come away from the course with extensive hand-out materials, as well as many other tangible resources: an advance directive; a “relapse prevention plan” to help identify tell-tale feelings, thoughts, behavior, or events that may warn of impending relapse and to organize for intervention; mindfulness exercises to help focus and calm thinking and stress reduction; and survival skills for working with providers and the general public.

A few testimonials from over 7,000 people nationally who have already taken the Peer-to-Peer course:

“Peer-to-Peer teaches in 10 weeks what it took me 20 years to figure out for myself.”
--Peer-to-Peer participant, California

“The course presented a very powerful message. I am impressed with the entire curriculum. It included a lot of different tools for recovery while allowing for choice, which is important to me.”
--Peer-to-Peer participant, Iowa 

"I am now able to look at myself in more depth with less fear. I can try to build bridges with the relationships that were interrupted by my illness."”
-- Illinois 

 

NAMI Gainesville / NAMI North Central Florida is one entity and is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

For questions about website e-mail : webmaster@namigainesville.org

©2012 NAMI North Central Florida / NAMI Gainesville