NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties to Host Free Family-to-Family Mental Health Education Class

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Sarasota and Manatee Counties will offer its nationally acclaimed Family-to-Family Education Class, a free, eight-session program designed to support family members, significant others, and friends of individuals living with mental health conditions.

The class will be held every Wednesday from February 11 through April 1, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Lakewood Ranch YMCA, located at 5100 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton, FL 34211. Family-to-Family is free of charge, but registration is required, as space is limited. Register today by visiting https://bit.ly/F2F2026 or emailing info@NAMISarasotaManatee.org.

NAMI Family-to-Family is an evidence-based program taught by trained family members who have lived experience supporting a loved one with a mental health condition. The course provides education, skills training, and emotional support in a safe and confidential setting.

Participants will learn:

• How to solve problems and communicate effectively.
• Strategies for self-care and stress management.
• How to support a loved one with compassion.
• How to find and use local supports and services.
• Up-to-date information on mental health conditions and how they affect the brain.
• How to handle a mental health crisis.
• Current treatments and therapies.
• The impact of mental health conditions on the entire family.

NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties is the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness through education, support, and advocacy.

For more information, visit NAMISarasotaManatee.org or call (941) 376-9361.