NAMI FAMILY TO FAMILY CLASS:

SOURCE OF “STRENGTH AND HOPE”

“Without the Family to Family Class, I would have lacked the skills I sorely needed to navigate my loved one’s mental illness. The fellowship and information I received during my 12 weeks in your class were invaluable to -me. In a very real way, that class sounded the death knell for the shame that had been residing in me. Family to Family was the beginning of my liberation.” Renowned author Bebe Moore Campbell

The above quote shows the extreme value of our program. Until recently, there simply has not been enough help for the myriad of families dealing with these difficult issues. Family member and NAMI member, Dr. Joyce Burland of Vermont, designed a free educational 12 week program for these families.

The free 12 week psycho-biological education course is for family members dealing with a chronically mentally ill relative. It teaches etiology, prognosis, treatment for the ill relative and coping skills for family members. All family members whose relatives have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, depression, depression with psychotic features, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, dual diagnosis, and borderline personality disorder would benefit from taking this course. The course is the equivalent of a graduate course in these illnesses, with excellent current book lists and up-to-date research references.

The prognosis for the children and relatives who have these illnesses greatly improves for family members who have taken this course. The course discusses all the possible etiologies for developing these illnesses from stress-diathesis models, to genetic models, to fetal illness model. It also explains all the current research into the brain-biology of each illness and the medications and therapeutic interventions, which best treat these illnesses.

Because of the myriad of difficulties these illnesses can present for a family, the curriculum with the class hand-outs is extremely helpful for family members. There is such a sense of relief in parent’s eyes when they have an understanding of the multi-factorial causes of these illnesses. They learn specific new tools that they can practice in communicating with their ill relatives. They develop deepening levels of empathy for their relatives as a result of experiential training offered in the class. Parents learn how to talk to the psychiatrists treating their ill children. They also master an understanding of brain biology and the medications for these conditions. In addition, they are also made aware of community resources available to help someone with a mental illness.

The reason the course is so powerful is that it is very detailed and consistent. The course is taught by family members who have ill relatives. It increases their knowledge level and their self-esteem. Students in the course learn the best ways to handle someone in the throes of a brain disorder. The course curriculum includes:

o Depression and Schizophrenia

o Schizo-affective Disorder

o Bipolar Disorder I and II

o Depression and depression with psychotic feature

o Panic Disorder

o Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

o Borderline Personality Disorder

The course is primarily for family members and not for the person with the above illnesses, and also covers:

o Brain biology of all these different brain illnesses

o Medications, their side-effects and the latest research on meds

o Empathy training and communication skills for family members

o Care for the caregivers and community resources

o Recovery for the family member with the illness

Comments from family members who have completed the course:

“Thank you so much for teaching this class. The information I have learned has made such a difference in my dealings with my daughter.” Ann W.

“Knowledge is power and now I have knowledge about what to do about my two sons with bipolar disorder. I also realized if I kept doing what I have always done about their illnesses, nothing would change. It was a relief to try these newly learned skills from the class.” Lou G.

One family member wrote that the class was empowering and made her feel less frightened about her daughter’s condition. Another wrote that the class was excellent and gave him great comfort about how to cope.

Giving families this course benefits the ill relative also, resulting in less family pressure for the ill person. They feel freer to come out of denial and take responsibility for finding treatment. When the family is educated the results of successful recovery are greater. This course teaches families how to maintain empathy and compassion for their ill relative in spite of the adverse conditions it causes.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Santa Cruz County offers these Family-to-Family classes. Call Judy Williams, class coordinator at (831) 688-3385 to sign-up.

Last Updated on 03/18/07 webmaster@namiscc.org

Opinions expressed in this web site do not necessarily reflect the views of NAMI Santa Cruz County, NAMI California or any affiliated organizations. We attempt to present a balanced perspective on issues by presenting multiple viewpoints.

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