Family to Family
Late Winter/Early Spring 2009 Family to Family Classes will be held in Nashua, Portsmouth, Conway, Concord, Hollis/Milford and at the Manchester VA.
Start dates and exact locations to be announced.
For more information or to register contact Annette Carbonneau at Acarbonneau@naminh.org or 225-5359 x 25
The NAMI NH Family to Family Education course is essential for anyone who has an adult in their life who has a mental illness. Course participants learn about brain biology, specific illnesses, medications and most importantly self-care and communication skills. The course is taught by volunteer family members who attended an intensive weekend training. The NAMI NH Family to Family teacher training was held in Concord on November 2-4, 2007. Nine teachers graduated from the training. NAMI NH wishes to congratulate and thank Helen Harrison, Betty Nitchie, Sue Barry, Diane Cyr, Rebecca Lawrence, Geri Foucher, Patricia Whitney, Debra Clark and Susan Smith. Our special thanks go to Norma and Scott Smith, NAMI NH's volunteer Family to Family State Teacher Trainers.
NOTE: Family to Family is for persons with an adult family member.
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.
The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is designed for families of person who have been diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness, as well as those who exhibit behavior that suggest such a diagnosis.
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.
Funding for the balance of this program is sponsored by dues and donations.
