NAMI Kane County North offers free family education program

NAMI Kane County North is hosting NAMI Family-to-Family, a free eight-session education program for people who love someone with mental health conditions. It provides information about anxiety, depressive disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other disorders.

The class will cover topics such as communication, medication, treatment, and recovery. The course is designed to increase understanding and advocacy skills while helping caregivers maintain their own well-being. The program is taught by trained family members who have a loved one with a mental health condition. NAMI Family-to-Family is an evidence-based program.

The class can be taken by parents, spouses, adult siblings, adult children, partners, or significant others of those with mental health conditions.

It will meet from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, March 31 to May 19, at New Life Community Church, 1580 E. Chicago St. in Elgin. Registration is required. For more information, or to register, call NAMI at (847) 410-9719 or email namikcn@gmail.com

A past participant testified: “I grew up with a sibling who is mentally ill. At times we had a strained relationship, until a year ago when I attended a Family-to-Family program provided by NAMI. The volunteer facilitators have family members who also are ill, and the support was overwhelming. This led to my greater understanding and the education brought so much healing.”

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

NAMI Kane County North is an affiliate of NAMI Illinois. NAMI Kane County North and its dedicated volunteer members and leaders work tirelessly to raise awareness and provide essential education, advocacy, and support group programs for people in our community with mental health conditions and their loved ones.