PEP offering education program for families living with mental illness

Nipissing Family Peer Support Services
News Release

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Nipissing Family Peer Support Services will offer the free NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program specifically for families of loved ones diagnosed with serious mental health issues.

The 12-sessions start in North Bay on Tuesday September 3rd, 2013 resuming every Monday evening from 5:00-7:30 p.m. at People for Equal Partnership in Mental Health, 351 Ferguson Street, 3rd floor.

The course will cover information about schizophrenia, the mood disorders (bipolar disorder and major depression), panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); coping skills such as handling crisis and relapse; basic information about medications; listening and communication techniques; problem-solving skills; recovery and rehabilitation; and self-care 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-Ontario family member volunteers who have taken intensive training as course instructors.

"This course is a wonderful experience!", says instructor April Raftis.

"It balances basic psycho-education and skill-training with emotional support, self-care and empowerment. We hope families with relatives who have a serious mental illness will take advantage of this unique opportunity."

The course is designed specifically for parents, siblings, spouses, teen-age 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-to-Family Education Course is free and limited spaces are available! For more information or to register, call (705) 494-4774 x 226 or go to www.f2fontario.ca

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