The NAMI NH North Country Support Group for Families Living with Mental Illness, Littleton, NH
This support group exists to provide a safe place for families to share their common concerns and learn from their common experiences. Many family members feel alone and isolated when faced with a mental illness in their family. Within this group you will find that you are not alone, and the insight and understanding that comes with attending these meetings will help you to help yourself and your loved one.
Our meetings are led by a trained NAMI NH facilitator who is also a family member who understands the challenges facing you and your family. For most months our first meeting of the month is for education and we present a speaker or specific topic, our second meeting is for support and is open to family and friends of someone with a mental illness.
Meeting Information:
When: 1st Tuesday of the month, 7 pm - 9 pm
Where: The All Saints Parrish House, School Street, Littleton, NH
School Street is located off Main Street, the same road as the Oasis Restaurant parking.
The Parrish House is the gray building connected to the church just behind the Oasis parking lot. Park on School Street and enter by the Parrish House door.
Contact: Annette Carbonneau (603) 823-5374, Email Carfamily1@roadrunner.com
Meeting dates:
No December Meetings
January 5 ~ Support Meeting
February 2 ~ Support Meeting
March 2 ~ Support Meeting
April 6 ~ Support Meeting
In March 2010 the 12 week NAMI NH Family to Family course will be offered in Littleton.
The NAMI Family to Family Education Program is designed to help family members gain a greater understanding of mental illness, cope better, worry less and feel newly empowered to advocate for better treatment and services for their loved one. Many family members describe the impact of taking this course as life changing.
The program consists of a series of twelve classes for family members of a person with serious and persistent brain disorders (mental illnesses). These classes represent a new concept and curriculum. In this model, the course co-teachers are family members themselves, and the course has been designed and written by an experienced family member who is also a mental health professional. The course balances education and skill training with self-care, emotional support and empowerment. Important components of the course are:
- Information about Major Depression, Bipolar Illness, Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Schizophrenia.
- Coping Skills; handling crisis and relapse.
- Listening and communication techniques.
- Problem solving and limit setting; rehabilitation.
- Understanding the actual experience of people suffering from mental illness.
- Self-care; learning to recognize normal emotional reactions in family members.
- Basic information about medications and their side effects.
- Information about connecting with appropriate community services and community supports.
- Advocacy: Getting better services, fighting discrimination and stigma.
This program is free and open to anyone who has an adult in their life with mental illness. For details contact Annette Carbonneau at carfamily1@roadrunner.com or 823-5374.