For the City Times

NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a recovery educational program for anyone experiencing a mental health challenge who is looking to better understand their condition and journey toward recovery.

Taught by a trained team of people who’ve been there, the program includes presentations, discussion and interactive exercises to help the individual create and maintain a person path to recovery and living well.

The class will be held for ten consecutive weeks on Tuesdays in Stevens Point starting September 8th at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and on Thursdays in Wisconsin Rapids starting September 10th at United Methodist Church.

NAMI Family-to-Family is a twelve week NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) program designed for those who have a family member or loved one who has been diagnosed with a mental health condition. The class will be held for twelve Thursdays beginning on September 3rd at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Stevens Point. Taught by trained NAMI family members, the NAMI Family-to-Family course addresses a wide range of issues that will bring better understanding about mental health conditions, confidence to provide support with compassion, increase coping skills, encourage healing and promote empowerment.

One in four adults are affected by a mental health condition in a given year; about 1 in 17 lives with a serious mental health condition. About 25% of jail and prison inmates and youth involved with juvenile justice live with a mental health condition. We lose one life to suicide every 15.8 minutes. Those who experience mental health conditions and their family members and loved ones may have to cope with multiple hospitalization, employment and financial problems, suicide attempts, legal issues, poor housing options, stigma and insufficient medical insurance.

For decades, most mental health professionals and society in general did not recognize that it is possible to recover from a mental health condition. It was thought that someone with a mental health condition could not work, live independently or have a family. Stabilization was the best one could hope for, but this is changing. Every year, SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) sponsors September as National Recovery Month to replace this misinformation by generating community awareness that prevention works, treatment is effective and people can and do recover.

This year, NAMI P-W begins the month with 2 classes that provide a roadmap to recovery for those with mental health challenges and for families and friends.

Research has shown that the best treatment for mental health conditions involves a combination of medication, therapy, educational and social support. These NAMI educational programs are designed to minimize potentially devastating problems and provide practical information on problem-solving skills, self-care strategies, relapse prevention and advocacy.

Registration for NAMI Family-to-Family is available by calling Kathy Hartman at 715-341-4483 or e-mail kathyahartman@me.com: For NAMI Peer-to-Peer and general information, contact Kay Jewell at 715-254-1864 or e-mail kay@namiportagewoodcounties.org. More information is available at namiportagewoodcounties.com.

About NAMI Portage-Wood Counties

NAMI Portage-Wood Counties is the local affiliate of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, support and research. We are steadfast in our commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope. NAMI P-W services both Portage and Wood counties with education and support services as well as advocacy.

Other programs offered include NAMI Basics for Parents, NAMI Homefront for Families of Veterans and Active Military, NAMI Family Support Group, NAMI Peer Connections, educational/support meetings for Parents and on Clutter/Hoarding and community training in crisis intervention.

Our advocacy activities include participation in coalitions in Portage and Wood Counties related to mental health, AODA, homelessness, and the justice system.

Kay E. Jewell is the president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness for Portage and Wood counties.