Free mental illness education course begins in January

Virginia Campbell, left, and Doris McQuese, residents of Morning Pointe senior-living community in Lexington, recently made Christmas ornaments and pottery bowls in a class taught by Michelle Armstrong, art teacher at Cardinal Valley Elementary and the daughter of Sandra Newby, a resident at Morning Pointe. The topic of the first monthly class was pottery. Photo provided

The Lexington affiliate of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is offering a free family-to-family education course for relatives and caregivers of people affected by mental illness. The course begins Jan. 13 and runs for 11 consecutive Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Topics covered include signs and symptoms of mental health diagnoses, research on the biology of brain disorders, medications, treatment methods, and strategies for handling crisis and relapse. Skill-building exercises on communication, listening and problem-solving will be practiced, along with sessions on empathy and self-care.

Go to NAMI.org/familytofamily for more information and a testimonial video. The course and materials are free. Advance enrollment is required; email Tracy at tracynamilex@gmail.com or call (859) 536-8278.

This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 1:02 PM with the headline "Free mental illness education course begins in January."

Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99

#ReadLocal