BRATTLEBORO — National Alliance on Mental Illness Vermont will sponsor the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program specifically for family members, partners, and significant others of individuals with major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The 12-week series of classes start on March 9, meeting once a week for 12 weeks from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The course is designed specifically for parents, siblings, spouses, adult children, and significant others of persons with severe and persistent mental illness. The course isn't appropriate for individuals who themselves struggle with one of the major mental illnesses, according to a news release.
The classes will cover information about the major mental illnesses; coping skills such as handling crisis and relapse; basic information about medications; listening and communication techniques; problem-solving skills; recovery and rehabilitation; and self-care around worry and stress.
The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Course is free and is made possible in part by a grant from the Department of Mental Health. For more information or to register, contact Nick Martin, program director at NAMI Vermont, at 800-639-6480, ext. 102, or program@namivt.org.
NAMI Vermont is the state chapter 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.