Family to Family
The NAMI Family to Family Education Program helps family members gain a greater understanding of their loved ones 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 twelve classes, one per week for 12 weeks. The teachers are family members themselve. 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.
Fall 2010 Classes
Amherst/Milford Area - Beginning Thursday, September 9, 2010 - 6:00 ~ 8:30 PM. To register, contact Beverly Melle at 673.7854 or via email at beverlymelle@gmail.com.
Dover - Starting Tuesday, August 31, 2010 - 6:00 ~ 8:30 PM. To register, contact Diane Cyr at 957.5767 or via email at dcyr@smhc-nh.org.
Lebanon - Starting Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 6:00 ~ 8:30 PM. To register, contact Donna Stamper at 863.2621 or via email at dstamp4@comcast.net.
Littleton - Beginning Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 6:00 ~ 8:30 PM. To register, contact Annette Carbonneau at 823.5374 or via email at acarbonneau@naminh.org.
Londonderry - Beginning Wednesday, September 1 - 6:30 ~ 9:00 PM. To register, contact Chet Littlefield at 978.590.8708 or via email at chet5115@hotmail.com.
Nashua - Beginning Monday, September 13, 2010 - 6:30 ~ 9:00 PM. To register, contact Pam Burns at 888.6219 or via email at parburns@gmail.com.
Additional classes and information will be added as it becomes available. Please check back.
THE NAMI NH FAMILY-TO-FAMILY EDUCATION PROGRAM IS FREE. For additional information, please contact Annette Carbonneau at 603-225-5359 ext 25 or email acarbonneau@naminh.org, or feel free to contact any of the following Family to Family teachers in your area:
Congratulations to the newest Family to Family Teacher Training Graduates – January 2010 |
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| L to R – Front Row: Scott Smith, Norma Smith (F2F State Teacher Trainers), Robyn Moses-Harney, Donna Stamper, Pam Burns, Annette Carbonneau, Janis Wolak and Rose Long Back Row: Robin Peck, Wendy Stanley Jones, Sheila Johnson, Dave Pelletier and Robin Blanchette |
Our “Travel Team”- teach in several communities
Helen Harrison
Harri871y@comcast.netValerie Acres
valerieacres@comcast.net
Peterborough Area
Patricia Whitney
Patricia.whitney@crotchedmountain.orgRebecca Lawrence
sunnybrookfarm@mac.com
Portsmouth Area
Diane Cyr
dcyr@smhc-nh.orgReid Cooper
reid865@gmail.comJackie Ellis
jackie.ellis1@gmail.com
Concord Area
Pat Nelson
patknelson@yahoo.comBetty Nitchie
NAMIConcordBNitchie@gmail.com
Conway Area
Elaine and Brooks South
elainesouth@roadrunner.com
Manchester VA
Diane Guidi
anxaxed@aol.comMarge (Margaret) Galvin
mlgalvin2@yahoo.com
Hollis/Merrimack Area
Susan Allen-Samuel
sallen@naminh.orgChet Littlefield
chet5115@hotmail.com
NAMI NH State Trainers and Nashua area teachers
Scott and Norma Smith
Ssmith411@aol.com
Family to Family Coordinator
Annette Carbonneau- 225-5359 x25
Acarbonneau@naminh.org
NOTE: Family to Family is for persons with an adult family member with mental illness.
Funding for this program is sponsored in part by dues and donations.