For those of us who are caring for a loved one with mental illness, it can be difficult to find information and support from others who really understand what it is like.  

NAMI’s proven Family-to-Family course has been translated into Spanish.  The Familia de Familia classes are designed to help family members understand the nature of their relative’s illness.  Many topics are covered in these FREE classes, including recognizing and managing symptoms, coping strategies, medications, side effects, communication, problem solving, and advocating for quality care.  Other important aspects of the course include encouragement, and the emphasis on how critical it is for caregivers to take care of themselves while supporting their loved one.

“We are very excited about this opportunity, as we have had many requests for the Family to Family class in Spanish, and now it looks like we will be able to do it.” said Deanna Bellinger, Director for the local NAMI chapter.  She added,  “The training weekend itself is pretty intense, but a lot of fun, and overall a very positive experience for those of us who have been through it.   I’ve been teaching the English version of the course for seven years, and have seen it literally transform people’s lives.”

 Teachers for the program do not need to have a degree or teaching experience.   The main requirement is that they have someone in their life who has been diagnosed with a mental illness (ie. depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, etc.), and a desire to help others in their community who are dealing with these difficult issues. 

All expenses for the teacher training will be covered (food, lodging, travel/mileage, course materials).  The training is two and a half days long, July 10, 11, and 12.  Once the teachers have completed their training, a class will be scheduled in the Douglas area.  

For more information about this program or other services available through NAMI, please call Sylvia Gonzalez at 459-3228.

NAMI Southeastern AZ is one of ten chapters in Arizona affiliated with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by mental illness.