AREA — The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Course will be presented by the Union County Chapter of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). The course will be held starting on Thursday evening, March 7, and will meet each Thursday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. over a consecutive nine-week period. Meetings will take place in person at a location to be determined. The course is free of charge, with all necessary materials furnished at no cost.

This course is offered specifically to the parents, siblings, spouses/partners, teenage and adult children and significant others of individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. The program is not appropriate for individuals who, themselves, suffer from one of the major mental disorders. The course is taught by NAMI members who have completed intensive training.

Curriculum topics include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depression), clinical depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc.; the clinical treatment of these illnesses and how caregivers can learn to cope more effectively. Attendees will learn about new research, medications, skills needed to successfully communicate with a relative and how to deal with critical periods.

Capacity is limited. To register or obtain more information, contact Pat Roman at (732) 397-8123 or email patroman2@aol.com. Those sending an email are asked to include in the subject line: F2F Course. An F2F teacher will respond with the details.