Classes
All classes are free of charge.
Family to Family
New Class to Begin February 14, 2012
A class taught by Bill and Angie will be offered in the spring of 2012; the class will be taught on twelve Tuesdays beginning on February 14. Parents, spouses, friends, or adult children of people with mental illnesses are invited to participate in this 12-week course. There is no charge for this NAMI signature program. Participants will learn valuable information to help them understand and support an ill relative while maintaining their own well being. Please call 688-5728 for information or to register for the upcoming class.
Peer to Peer Class
New Class to Begin February 24, 2012 - Call to Register
The next Peer to Peer class will start on February 24. Classes will be held at Sharon Woods on ten consecutive Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m. Call Dean at 840-0915 or John at 472-5907 to register. To take the class you must be 18 or older, have a psychiatric diagnosis, and have someone with whom you can talk about any issues/problems the classes unearth. The classes teach information about the various mental illnesses, tell how different medications function, help you create a relapse prevention plan, and start you toward creating an advance medical directive. The class will be facilitated by Dean and John.
NAMI Basics Education Program
New Class to Begin February 8, 2012 - Call to Register
Offered at the Proctor Professional Building, this new course that runs for six weeks on Wednesdays from February 8 to March 14, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. is for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents with mental illness. Basics is taught by parents who have lived similar experiences with their own kids and have received training to teach the course. The class covers the biology of mental illness, treatment, and the latest research as well as the trauma of brain disorders for the child and the family. The next class will be taught by Beth Lawrence and Pat Sefried. If you are interested in this class, please preregister by February 4 by calling Pat, 263-7742. There is no charge for this NAMI signature program.
Also, check out www.NAMI.org "Basics" video on You Tube for further description of the course.
Additional Class Description:
FAMILY TO FAMILY
For families, friends, and caregivers of adults with mental illnesses. The twelve week course is taught by trained family members who provide handouts at each class. All types of mental illnesses are covered, as well as the biology of the brain and new research. Empathy, communication skills, self-care, and advocacy initiatives are also included. Classes are held twice a year, starting in March and September.
Overview of a Family to Family
12-week Class Schedule
Week 1: Introduction to Family Education
Week 2: Symptoms of Schizophrenia, Major Depression, Mania, Schizoaffective Disorder; Getting through critical periods of crisis.
Week 3: Subtypes of Depression and Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Panic Disorder, OCD, Co-occurring brain and addictive disorders; telling our stories.
Week 4: Basics about brain biology and the causes of brain disorders.
Week 5: Problem Solving Workshop
Week 6: Medication Review
Week 7: Empathy: Inside mental illness
Week 8: Communication Skills Workshop
Week 9: Self-care
Week 10: Rehabilitation; Making choices for recovery
Week 11: Fighting Stigma; Advocacy
Week 12: Evaluation, Certification and Celebration party
Click here for a detailed description of the Family to Family class.
For more information, please contact
Dianne (309) 683-0884 or Carolyn (309) 691-0201
PEER TO PEER
For any person with serious mental illness that is interested in establishing and maintaining wellness. The nine week course uses a combination of lecture, interactive exercises, and structured group processes. The course is taught by teams of three trained “mentors” or peer teachers who are themselves experienced at living well with mental illness.
You must go through a screening interview to enroll in this class. See below for more details and for the contact information of people who will help with registration.
Overview of a Peer to Peer
9-Week Class Schedule
Week 1 Introduction, Stigma, Discrimination, Begin Relapse Prevention Training
Week 2 Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Thoughts, Feelings, Sleep, Continue Relapse Prevention Planning
Week 3 Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Senses, Behavior, Continue Relapse Prevention Planning
Week 4 Story Telling
Week 5 Language, Emotions, Continue Relapse Prevention Training
Week 6 Addictions, Spirituality, Medication, Continue Relapse Prevention Training
Week 7 Coping Strategies, Decision Making
Week 8 Relationships, Begin Advance Directive
Week 9 Empowerment, Advocacy, “Complete” Advance Directive, Evaluations
The Peer to Peer Class is held when there are enough participants to fill the class.
For more information, please contact
John at 472-5907 or Dean at 347-1634
BASICS EDUCATION PROGRAM
This course covers information about ADHD, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, Schizophrenia, and Substance Abuse Disorders. It also includes coping skills such as handling a crisis and relapse, basic information about medication use in the treatment of mental illness in children, listening and communication techniques, problem-solving skills; and an overview of the mental health and school systems' roles in treating children with mental illness.
The curriculum was written by an experienced family member mental health professional. The course will be taught by two volunteers who are parents or other caregivers of individuals who developed mental illness as children. These volunteers have taken extensive training as course instructors.
Click here for a description of the Basics Education class.
To get information about, or to register for, the class, please call Amanda at (309) 231-3855