NAMI of Whatcom County once again offers its NAMI Family to Family Education Program in Bellingham. This twelve week course is taught by trained family members. All course materials are furnished without charge. The class is for caretakers of persons with severe mental illnesses: parents, siblings, spouses and adult children of persons with mental illnesses, and recovering consumers who are themselves also caretakers of mentally ill persons(s).

The Family to Family Course Topics include:

1. Learning about feelings, learning about facts
2. Schizophrenia, major depression and mania; diagnosis and dealing with critical periods.
3. Subtypes of depression and bipolar disorder, panic disorder and OCD; diagnosis and cuses; sharing our stories
4. The biology of the brain/new research
5. Problem solving workshop
6. Medication review
7. Empathy workshop--what it's like to have a brain disorder
8. Communication skills workshop
9. Self-care and relative groups
10. Rehabilitation, services available
11. Advocacy: fighting stigma and for improved access to better treatment
12. Review and certification

This highly sought after course is ABSOLUTELY FREE, but teachers ask that family caretakers commit to attending all 12 evening classes, 2 and 1/2 hours each week for 12 weeks. There is space for 20 persons.

If you are interested in participating, please call NAMI Whatcom office at 360-671-4950.