This information was given to me by Ward 4 residents Ruth and Charlie Lambert who have done a lot of great community work supporting persons and families dealing with mental health issues:
Families Need Help Too!
(Learning to live with Mental Illness in the Family)
The Family-to-Family program is a free course for the family members of persons who are affected with a serious mental illness brought to the community by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Mass) through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. Over 100,000 people have taken the course since its inception. The course begins on February 24, 2009 and meets in Newburyport in weekly sessions from 7pm until 9:30pm. The course is taught by two-three trained volunteer family members from NAMI Mass.
Family-to-Family utilizes a variety of teaching techniques and includes:
*information on specific mental illnesses
*Coping skills, handling crisis and relapse
*Listening and Communication skills
* Problem solving and limit setting; rehabilitation
* Empathy skills
*Self care
*Basic information on Medications
*Information on community support
*Advocacy; fighting stigma and discrimination
Class size is limited and fills up quickly
Please contact
Ruth or Charlie @ 978-462-2471
Or
Joyce at 978-463-7835
1 comment:
Hi Ed,
Thank you for posting this notice.
The family issues surrounding mental illness are not well understood by many who have not experienced them directly. These issues are real, difficult, and can wreak absolute havoc and pain on the family who has a member suffering from mental illness.
Even if only one person who its wondering what to do next reads your post, you have done a great service.
James Shanley
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