Mental health focus of free series of classes

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) of Ventura County will sponsor the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program designed for family members, including parents, siblings, spouses, teenage and adult children and significant others, of persons diagnosed with serious mental illness.

The 12-week series of classes is free and will get underway from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thurs., July 22 in Room 2106 at Calvary Community Church, 5495 Via Rocas, Westlake Village.

The course will cover information about schizophrenia, the mood disorders (bipolar disorder and major depression), panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder; coping skills such as handling crisis and relapse; basic information about medications; listening and communication techniques; problem-solving skills; recovery and rehabilitation; and self-care around worry and stress.

The curriculum has been "written by an experienced family member mental health professional and taught throughout North America," according to the agency. The course will be taught by NAMI-Ventura County family member volunteers who have taken intensive training as course instructors.

The course balances basic psycho-education and skill-training with emotional support, self-care and empowerment. According to NAMI, studies show that family support and education is an important factor in recovery and relapse prevention.

For more information or to register, please call Debbie Hurt at (805) 660-1755.