You Are Not Alone-Nami

 What is NAMI?

The National Alliance on Mental Illness

(NAMI) is the nation's largest grassroots

mental health organization dedicated to

improving the lives of individuals and families

affected by mental illness. NAMI has over

1,100 affiliates in communities across the

country who engage in advocacy, research,

support and education. Members of NAMI are

families, friends and people living with mental

illnesses such as major depression,

schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-

compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder,

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and

borderline personality disorder.

Many NAMI affiliates offer an array of

support and education programs for

individuals and families. For information

about what is available in your

community, contact your local affiliate

directly or visit www.nami.org.

"] thought my wife and I knew just about

everything there is to know about the system and

the illness. Boy, were we wrong. Without a doubt,

this is best support course I have had the privilege

of taking part in, bar none.

Family-to-Family Participant, Wisconsin

You are Not Alone

Despite gains in the treatment and

opportunities for recovery, coping with the

difficulties that many people encounter in

caring for a relative or friend with mental

illness can be difficult. The NAMI Family-

to-Family Education Program is a 12-week

course for families and friends of adults

living with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder,

major depression, anxiety disorders and

borderline personality disorder. Course

participants gain vital information, insight

and understanding of their loved one that

many describe as life-changing.

Family-to-Family provides caregivers

with communication and problem-solving

techniques, coping mechanisms and the

self-care skills needed to deal with their

loved one's mental illness as well as its

impact on the family.

Why is Family-to-Family

unique?

The course provides insights into, and

resolution of, the profound concerns

experienced by families, close relatives

ift and friends as they strive to cope with the

realities of serious mental illness.

Caregivers not only learn a wide range of

information about serious mental illness

they also learn to understand how living

with these conditions affects their loved

one.

Each course:

Meets weekly for 12 weeks

Is offered free of charge

Is taught by trained NAMI family

members who have relatives with

mental illness

Follows a structured format covering

issues frequently faced by families

dealing with mental illness

The course teaches the knowledge and

skills that family members need to cope

more effectively.

ter Attend with other family members just

like you in a confidential setting.

Gain insight into how mental illness

affects your relative.

Take an eye-opening look inside some

of todays current brain research

related to mental illness.

Learn how families can become

advocates for better treatments for

their relatives.

Learn about the medication issues

involved in mental illness and the

latest treatment options.

Learn to cope with worry and stress;

learn to focus on care for you as well

as your loved ones.

The NAMI Family-to-Family education

program is taught in 49 states, twO

provinces in Canada, Mexico and in Italy. It

has touched the lives of more than

200,000 participants. The curriculum nas

been translated into Spanish.

"The course gave me hope that it will be okay, that

am not alone and reduced of a lot of shame, guilt and

hopelessness. I see my wife now as someone who is ill

and not as someone having a character flaw. The

course helped mC educate my children about their

mother's illness and increased my compassion for my

wife and others who have mental illness.'

Family-to-Family Participant, California