SANTA BARBARA — The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southern Santa Barbara County is inviting family members of adults living with serious mental health conditions to register for its upcoming “Family-to-Family” education program.
The free, 12-session course is designed to help family members understand and support their loved ones who are living with mental illness, while maintaining their own well-being. Conducted by trained teachers who are also family members and have been through the course, the program will include information on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and other mental health conditions.
In additional to gaining knowledge about these mental disorders, participants will learn coping skills such as handling crisis and relapse, listening and communication techniques, problem-solving, recovery and rehabilitation, and self-care in the midst of worry and stress. Members will also receive information about treatment options.
Thousands of participants have described the NAMI Family-to-Family program as life-changing.
“This course overall was the single most, without a doubt, helpful and informative thing ever offered in all my years searching for answers,” said a local participant who previously completed the program. “It has helped me to understand better and communicate more effectively with my brother.”
Pre-registration is required and space is limited for spring classes. Those interested are encouraged to register now. For more information or to register, please contact Gracie Huerta at 805-884-8440 ext. 3206 or guerta@mentalwellnesscenter.org.
The 12-week program will be held on Wednesday evenings at the Mental Wellness Center, 617 Garden Street in Santa Barbara.
NAMI Southern Santa Barbara County is a program of the Mental Wellness Center.
About the Mental Wellness Center: The Mental Wellness Center is a private, non-profit organization providing recovery, education, and family services to adults and families affected by mental illness. For more information, please call (805) 884-8440 or visit www.mentalwellnesscenter.org.
About NAMI Southern Santa Barbara County: NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI Southern Santa Barbara County is a program of the Mental Wellness Center in Santa Barbara and an affiliate of NAMI California. NAMI Southern Santa Barbara County’s dedicated volunteers, members and leaders work tirelessly to raise awareness and provide essential education, advocacy and support group programs for people in our community living with mental illness and their loved ones.