NAMI to offer free educational programs as a public service

The National Alliance for Mental Illness of Tulare County (NAMI) will sponsor the NAMI Family-to-family Education Program specifically for families of persons diagnosed with a serious mental

illness. The 12-session series of classes will start in Porterville on Wednesday September 19, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The course will cover information about schizophrenia, the mood disorders (bipolar and major depression), panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder,

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); coping skills such as handling crises and relapse; basic information about medications; listening and communication techniques; problem-solving

skills; recovery and rehabilitation; and selfcare around worry and stress.

The curriculum has been written by an experienced family member mental health professional and the course will be taught by NAMI Tulare County family member volunteers who have taken intensive training as course instructors. The co-teachers for the Porterville area will be Donna Grigsby and Kathy Farrell.

“This course is a wonderful experience,” says instructor Kathy Farrell. “It balances basic psychoeducation and skill training with emotional support, self-care and empowerment. We

hope families with relatives who have a serious brain disorder (mental illness) will take advantage of this unique opportunity.”

The course is designed specifically for parents, siblings, spouses, teenage and adult sons and daughters, partners, and significant others who are caregivers of persons with severe and persistent mental illness. The course is not appropriate for individuals who themselves have a major mental illness.

The NAMI Family-tofamily Education Course is free. For information or to register for this free class that will be offered on Wednesday evenings beginning September 19th in Porterville, contact Kathy Farrell at (559) 361-3861 or Donna Grigsby at (559) 280-5258.