“When you have a family member with a mental health condition, you face many challenges, and sometimes it helps to know you’re not alone.” This is according to Sharon Smith, instructor of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Family-to-Family education program, who took the classes herself in 1998.
Beginning September 7 NAMI of Marion and Crawford Counties will offer the no-cost 12-week course on Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Crawford-Marion ADAMH Board, 142 S. Prospect St., Marion.
This designated evidence-based program, which is conducted by NAMI state-trained family caregivers, is geared toward family members, significant others, and close friends of individuals with mental health conditions. The course provides a broad perspective that will help parents, spouses, siblings, and adult children better understand and support loved ones experiencing mental illness, while taking care of their own needs as well.
Classes cover diagnoses and symptoms of the most common mental illnesses, how the brain is affected, medications and treatment strategies, coping and communication skills, managing stress and crises, and finding local supports and services to help their loved ones on their recovery journey. All training materials are provided free of charge to participants.
Registration is required, and classes fill up quickly. For more information or to register for the course, contact Sharon Smith at (740) 251-7127 or Mick Smith at (740) 251-7182 or e-mail [email protected].
Mental illness includes major depression, major anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia.
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI of Marion and Crawford Counties and its dedicated volunteer members and leaders work to raise awareness and provide essential education, advocacy, and support group programs for people in our community living with mental illness and their loved ones.
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