National Alliance on Mental Illness Buffalo & Erie County online family support groups available

National Alliance on Mental Illness Buffalo & Erie County (NAMI) family support groups are available for adult family members and caregivers (over age 18) of people living with mental illness. Family support group meetings are held online. Described as a safe, confidential place to receive support and referrals to needed resources, they are led by trained NAMI member volunteers with family experience of a loved one living with mental illness. There is no charge to participate. Adult family members or caregivers anywhere in Western New York may attend a group.

October Family Support Group meetings are as follows (two new times added):

 •Wednesday, Oct. 7, noon-1:30 p.m. (first Wednesday)

The Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center technology access space is available for this group, and transportation, if needed. To sign up to participate from the hospital technology access space, call Taylor at 716-343-3061 to reserve a computer. Social distancing and masks are required to participate.

• Thursday, Oct. 8, 7-8:30 p.m. (second Thursday) 

The Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center technology access space is available for this group, and transportation, if needed. To sign up to participate from the hospital technology access space, call Taylor at 716-343-3061 to reserve a computer. Social distancing and masks are required to participate.

•Thursday, Oct. 15, 7-8:30 p.m. (third Thursday)

•Wednesday, Oct. 21, 7-8:30 p.m. (third Wednesday) 

•Wednesday, Oct. 28, 7-8:30 p.m. (fourth Wednesday)

The Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center technology access space is available for this group, and transportation, if needed. To sign up to participate from the hospital technology access space, call Taylor at 716-343-3061 to reserve a computer. Social distancing and masks are required to participate.

There is no charge to attend a NAMI family support group; however, to ensure both confidentiality and safety, preregistration is required. To request to preregister, email [email protected] with name, a phone number, and the date of the group to attend.

To attend using the Niagara County technology access space or arrange transportation, call Taylor at 716-343-3061 by 3 p.m. the day before the meeting to attend.