NAMI Six County Offers Mental Illness Education Program

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – May is mental health awareness month, and NAMI Six County is offering a course to members of the community on how to cope with the illness.

The family-to-family education program is a 12 week course structured to assist families and friends of individuals dealing with mental illness. This course will help them understand and support their loved ones while maintaining their own well being.

“This class offers an opportunity to get an overview of mental illness and its symptoms and how it plays out and affects relationships. And how family members can better interact with those loved ones who are battling with the illness,” said NAMI Six County President, Paul Quinn.

The entire course is free to participants and includes special workshops with problem solving, listening, and communication techniques. Trained family members of individuals with mental illness teach the lecture style course.

“The class is taught by other family members who have lived experience, and have been trained to teach this course. And so they’ve been through it and know what it’s like to be that family member who’s struggling with a loved one who has the illness,” said Quinn.

The course is offered Wednesday evenings from June 5th through August 21st, at the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board on Coal Run Road. To sign up for the class just contact the NAMI Six County Facebook page. The deadline is June 1st.