With Hope in Mind

With Hope in Mind is an 8-week family education course that provides basic information about schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and dual diagnosis. The course is based on symptomology of the illnesses. It also covers information on medications, recovery and rehabilitation and suggests possible sources of financial assistance. Additionally, this course offers helpful skills-building classes, such as problem solving and communication, that aid family members to better cope with the illness. It also provides immediate coping skills for dealing with the different cycles of each illness, including crisis planning. The revised edition will also contain a religious unit. The class concludes with a session on advocacy which empowers family members to be effective advocates for their loved ones with mental illnesses. With Hope in Mind is a modular course that can be presented in numerous ways and contains 5 videos. It has a support group component also. (1½ hr. per class, 8 presentations) The course is available in Spanish and French.

Partnerships

has an incredible amount of information from a brief history of psychiatric treatments to the phases of accepting the illness. The course is taught by a mental health professional and a family member using videos, overheads and handouts for five sessions (a sixth on MI/Substance Abuse is available) of three hours each. Many processes are taught within the course such as: determination of a diagnosis; emergency detention; commitment process; confidentiality; advocacy; and finding community resources. The characteristics of the major disorders are taught along with role plays and ideas about how to cope with symptoms as they're displayed in daily life, such as coping with a lack of motivation and suicide prevention. The indications and side effects of different medications are taught along with practical ideas on helping a person with mental illness be more compliant. The family member or MH worker will learn how to maintain personal safety while setting limits and creating a supportive environment, even while addressing the distressing subject of relapse. Partnerships is available in Spanish. A Guide of Hope is a basic education curriculum that will address the various issues of mental illnesses (bipolar, depression, schizophrenia, schizoaffective, dual diagnosis, etc.).

A Guide of Hope

This will be the Texas Medication Algorithms Project's TIMA Family Education component, which will be offered in 3-4 on-going or repeated sessions in which families and friends of persons with mental illness may attend as often as they desire. A Guide of Hope will offer basic education including symptoms, coping skills, medications, crisis plans and resources. A Guide of Hope is available in Spanish.

Contact: NAMI Nashville at (615) 259-7591.