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Take advantage of Jane’s carefully crafted approach. Establish your family as a support unit through education and communication. Educate yourself about mental illness through the NAMI education resources. Stop buying into the old ideas of stigma! Use proven tools for accessing services and for family healing.
- Step One:
Start Communication about the mental illness and remove the stigma. Talk together with your family and a family oriented mental health professional. If you need help finding a qualified therapist, attend your local NAMI support group and ask for recommendations.
- Step Two:
Write a Historical Chronology. Put together the facts about the illness so you can present the case for treatment with credibility and respect for your ill relative. (more)
- Step Three:
Educate yourself. Attend the free 12 week course for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses. The classes discuss the clinical treatment of these illnesses and teach the knowledge and skills that family members need to cope more effectively. Check out www.NAMI.org.
- Step Four:
Prepare yourself and become an advocate. Attend a workshop, arrange a tutorial, or download materials to help you use the skills and tools that Advocacy Works offers. Learn about the skills you have or can develop to insure success. (more)
- Step Five
Restore balance and joy in your life.
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