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Community Corner

Free course for loved ones of those with mental illness

Offered by the Stamford-Greenwich affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Family-to-Family is a free 11-week educational program for families, caregivers and friends of adults with mental illnesses, including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and other common psychiatric disorders. Learn how these illnesses affect a person’s brain and behavior and how medications help.  Workshops in empathy and communication help families understand their loved one’s illness and show how to provide support.  A care-for-the-caregiver workshop helps families cope with their own stress.  Confidentiality is respected; the trained volunteer instructors are themselves family members.

Classes will be held on Saturday mornings from February 1st to April 12th.

Peter Case, past president of the affiliate, urges people to register soon.  “The class fills up fast,” he said.  Those interested should contact Peter at 203-322-3383 or pcase@optonline.net, or call instructor Claudia at 203-428-6864.

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A similar program, NAMI Basics, for caregivers of children under 18 with mental illness, will begin on April 7 in Stamford.  Details are available at namisg.info. 

NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots, nonprofit organization to improve quality of life for people with mental illness and their families.

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