The Butler County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness has enhanced its fall programming with a new support group and a new location.

The new program is Connections Recovery Support Group, which is a support group for adults in mental illness recovery and a new offering in NAMI’s Family-to-Family program.

Connections will connect and encourage participants in their recovery from a mental health condition. The sessions will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month, beginning Sept. 3, in the small first-floor conference room at the Holly Pointe building, 220 S. Main St., Butler.

The Connections meetings, which are free and confidential, are lead by trained facilitators.

NAMI will offer its 8-week Family-to-Family education course this fall at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA, 2001 Ehrman Road, Cranberry Township.

The free classes are for family members, significant others and friends of those with a mental health condition. It is facilitated by trained individuals with lived experience.

Course topics include current treatments and therapies, funding local support services, handling crises, communicating effectively with the affected loved one, managing stress, and understanding the impact a mental health condition can have on family and friends.

Family-to-Family classes will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesdays, and will run from Sept. 4 through Oct. 23.

NAMI’s Peer-to-Peer education program, which is aimed at adults living with a mental health condition, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. each Friday from Sept. 6 to Oct. 25 at the Holly Pointe building, 220 S. Main St., Butler.

The course offers information on partnering with health care providers, developing confidence for making decisions, enhancing communication skills, learning about mental health treatment options, and practicing relaxation and stress-reduction techniques.

To register for any of the sessions, visit namibutler.org. Class size is limited.

Registration for Family-to-Family closes on Wednesday, and Peer-to Peer on Friday. No registration is required for the Connections group.