NAMI-Sussex honors course graduates

NEWTON — The most recent Sussex County graduates of NAMI’s 12-week “Family-to-Family” course were honored the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 12, by the Sussex County affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Fourteen participants successfully completed the intensive 30-hour course created by NAMI to help family members of persons with mental illness.

NAMI recognizes that not only do persons stricken with mental illness face a difficult struggle, but so do the person’s immediate family members. NAMI’s Family-to-Family course is nationally renowned for helping families address the difficult issues caregivers typically face.

Over 200,000 family members throughout the U.S. have taken the course.

For many, the class provides their first opportunity to speak openly to members of other families dealing with similar issues, and to know that they are not alone.

The course helps participants to understand that they are not to blame for their loved one’s illness, and that the person suffering from the illness should not be blamed, either.

Most mental illnesses are the result of biologically-based brain disorders.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Family-to-Family course and other programs offered by NAMI-Sussex should call 973-214-0632, or visit the NAMI-Sussex Web site, www.nami-sussex-nj.org.

The course will be offered again in the Newton area in late February.