CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – Recognizing the growing need for mental health support, a local group in Charlottesville is offering a free course to help families navigate the challenges of mental illness.
Anne Himes, a representative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Blue Ridge Charlottesville, emphasizes the increasing impact of mental health conditions on the community. “We have so many people who are deeply affected by mental illness, and the numbers continue to grow for various reasons,” she said.
To address this issue, Himes helped organize an eight-lesson program aimed at assisting families in managing the mental health challenges of their loved ones. The course is designed to provide practical guidance for families who may be struggling to support their relatives through mental health conditions.
Himes explains, “They recognize that this is not the way they are having a quality life for themselves or their loved ones.” Despite the resources available in the area, she notes that finding the right help can often be confusing, expensive, and stigmatized. She hopes the course will ease the process of accessing care.
“Trying to find a provider is a challenge, and so it has been a problem for all of us,” Himes said. “We hope to offer some solutions, including how to access care and navigate the mental health system.”
The free course provides participants with coping strategies, problem-solving skills, and access to peer support groups. The lessons are taught by trained educators who have personal experience supporting family members through mental health challenges. Himes believes this shared experience creates a more comfortable and relatable learning environment.
“We create an environment where we can discuss mental illness openly, fostering a true sense of community,” she said. The program aims to empower families, offering education and support to improve their mental well-being.
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