Thursdays, January 28 – April 21, 2016
12 Sessions (no class March 24)

THIS CLASS IS NOW FULL. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Family-to-Family is a free, 12-session educational program for family, significant others and friends of people living with mental illness. It is a designated evidenced-based program. Research shows that the program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to an individual living with a mental health condition.

NAMI Family-to-Family is taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there, and includes presentations, discussion and interactive exercises. This class is co-sponsored with Beth Israel’s Caring Community Mental Illness GPS Committee. It will be held at Beth Israel and taught by Jean Seltzer and Karen Shein.

What You’ll Gain

NAMI Family-to-Family not only provides critical information and strategies for taking care of the person you love, but you’ll also find out that you’re not alone. Recovery is a journey, and there is hope.

The group setting of NAMI Family-to-Family provides mutual support and shared positive impact—you can experience compassion and reinforcement from people who understand your situation. You can also help others through your own experience. In the program, you’ll learn about:

∗ How to manage crises, solve problems and communicate effectively
∗ Taking care of yourself and managing your stress
∗ Developing the confidence and stamina to provide support with compassion
∗ Finding and using local supports and services
∗ Up-to-date information on mental health conditions and how they affect the brain
∗ Current treatments, including evidence-based therapies, medications and side effects
∗ The impact of mental illness on the entire family

What People are Saying

“Before I took the course, I felt alone and overwhelmed dealing with my daughter’s mental illness. By taking this course, I have met others who are going through the same things I am and have learned about many resources that I never knew existed.”

“I thought my wife and I knew just about everything there is to know about the system and the illness. Boy, were we wrong. Without a doubt, this is the best support course I have had the privilege of taking part in, bar none.”