To the Editor:
One person with mental illness affects the whole family. It comes up at family gatherings and holidays, weddings and funerals, whether the person is there or not.
Mental illness is the least understood of all disabilities. And one in five adults experiences an episode in any given year, according to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). That pretty much affects everyone’s family.
NAMI’s free, 12-week course, Family-to-Family, addresses all aspects of mental illness and is designed for family members and friends of adults 17 and over who have anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD or borderline personality disorder.
The course looks at symptoms, behaviors, diagnoses, medications, and treatment, offering concepts and models for coping strategies, communication skills, care for the caregiver and ways to advocate for someone you love who needs help.
Family-to-Family will be held Wednesday evenings beginning March 21 from 6-8:30 p.m. in Newport for 12 consecutive weeks. For more information or to register, call Pat Whitney, 603-763-5054, Donna Stamper 605-863-2621 or Kelly Burch 978-701-2436.
Pat Whitney, Sunapee
Donna Stamper, Grantham
Kelly Burch, Claremont
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