NAMI-Finger Lakes is the Ithaca, NY affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
In 1986, our founder, Jean Walters, of Ithaca, NY, welcomed families to her home for support and education about mental illness. Hear her tell the history of NAMI FL’s beginnings in the audio provided below.
We seek to:
- Support families and friends of people diagnosed with major mental illnesses
- Educate families and the public about mental illness
- Advocate for families and their ill relative
NAMI-Finger Lakes is a non-profit organization of volunteers. All programming volunteers are trained and certified by NAMI and have loved ones living with mental illness. As a result, we’re very familiar with local human services for people experiencing and living in recovery from mental illnesses. Our volunteers and staff can share their knowledge and experience with you.
Our programs include:
- Confidential support groups
- NAMI Finger Lakes HELP Line staffed by experienced, local volunteers- Call 607-273-2462 for support
- Support for family members with patients in Cayuga Medical Center’s Behavioral Services Unit
- Family-to-Family Education Course for adults– an eight week program
- NAMI Basics – a six week program for Caregivers of children up to age 22
- Family and Friends presentations– A two hour program
- NAMI Homefront- Education for families of Veterans and active Servicemembers– six week program
- Family Forum- a joint Program of NAMI Finger Lakes and Tompkins County Mental Health Services held the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM for presentations and discussions regarding mental health programs, services, and advocacy
- Ending the Silence Presentations for Youth, Faculty and Families
- Weekly NAMI FL Newsletter- click to receive our newsletter in your inbox
- A lending library of resource materials about mental illness
- Speakers who will talk with your group, class, or community organization about mental illness and its impact on families and our community
In addition, NAMI FL maintains a Crisis File of local, State and national organizations and services of need and interest to families impacted by mental illness. We can help you navigate the many concerns surrounding mental illness such as:
- Psychiatric care in Ithaca and in surrounding communities
- Missing and homeless relatives
- Dual-diagnosis (diagnosed with mental illness & addicted to alcohol/drugs)
- Mental illness and the criminal justice system
- Estate planning when you have ill relatives
- Avoiding other health problems caused by mental illness
Please contact us – we are a safe harbor for your family’s struggle with mental illness.
