NAMI Education Program, 356 Biltmore Avenue, Ste. 315, Asheville, NC 28801

Tuesday, June 5, 6 – 7 pm

This presentation will introduce the ways that Wellness Recovery Action Planning (W.R.A.P.) can be used within families to identify triggers and  Wellness Tools while improving communication and working together to develop strategies to respond to psychiatric crisis in ways that support Family Wellness and Individual Recovery.

This introductory program is presented by Faith Rhyne, a Certified Peer and WRAP facilitator. Ms. Rhyne has extensive lived experience with mental health disorder and, as a professional Peer, is passionate about helping individuals and families learn to navigate life challenges.

May 10 – June 14

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS REGISTERED. THE CLASS IS FULL WITH EIGHT STUDENTS.

OUR NEXT W.R.A.P. CLASS WILL BEGIN IN OCTOBER. DATES TBA.

The next 12-hour training using Mary Ellen Copeland’s book “Wellness Recovery Action Plan” will begin on Thursday, May 10. The class will meet for six consecutive Thursdays at our office at 356 Biltmore Ave. #207. W.R.A.P. is a proven way to  gain insight into yourself, your feelings and emotions to help you build a constructive wellness plan to delay or prevent relapses from mental health/substance abuse/trauma issues. You will explore what makes you feel good, what to do daily to continue feeling good, triggers, early warning signs, when things are breaking down and a crisis and post-crisis plan.

This may be the first time that you have ever taken the time to really explore who you are and what you need to stay well. It is well worth the journey.

This class is for those with a mental health diagnosis/substance abuse-addiction only. It is not for professionals wanting to learn about W.R.A.P.  A separate 4-hour class will be scheduled for professionals later this summer.

Cost is $25 for materials. Class is limited to eight (8). Please register by contacting Christine at namiwnc@yahoo.com or by calling 828-505-7353 by May 3. This class is approved by Western Highlands Network for 12 hours continuing education credits for Peer Support Specialists.

Elizabeth Burgess, Training Specialist for Western Highlands Network, has generously offered to hold a “Hearing Voices Training” for NAMI WC. The two-hour class allows you to have the experience of trying to do everyday tasks or play a game while wearing earbuds and listening to voices talk to you, perhaps give you orders, in the way that some people with a mental health problem hear voices. The training will give you a first-hand understanding of how distracting and difficult it can be to focus on the things you need to do. No negative messages will be given.

This training is part of  Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) which educates police officers and first-responders on how to work with those with mental health issues when they receive a 9-1-1 call.

Class is limited to ten people. A date will not be set for the free training until we see how much interest there is. Elizabeth is available in the evenings or on Saturdays. For more information or to register call us at 505-7353 or email namiwnc@yahoo.com. Use the phrase “Voices” in the subject line.

The Charles George VAMC in Asheville will offer the free NAMI Family-to-Family (F2F) education and support class for families/caregivers of an individual with a severe mental illness from 6 to 8:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 17 – May 24, 2012.

The class results through an agreement between the Veterans Health Administration and the National Alliance on Mental Illness on the value of this peer-to-peer education.  Veterans’ families will have priority in enrolling.  The 12 sessions include current facts about mental illnesses, treatment, medications, communication skills, problem solving, advocacy, recovery and self-care.

More than 250,000 family members across the country have graduated from NAMI F2F.  NAMI Western Carolina co-sponsors this program as part of its mission to improve the lives of those affected by mental illness through advocacy, support and education.

Because the class size is limited, early registration is required.  For information, call 828-299-9596 or email rohaus@charter.net.

Changes coming up at NAMI WC!

Beginning on February 21, our support groups on the THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH for both consumers (those with a mental health diagnosis) and family members/caregivers from 6 – 7:30 pm (groups held separately) will no longer be followed by an education program.

Beginning on Tuesday, March 6 we will have an education program/general meeting only on the FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH from 6 – 7 pm.

The new ongoing schedule will be:

Third Tuesday, Feb. 21 – 6pm – 7:30 pm – Support groups only

First Tuesday, March 6 – 6pm – 7 pm – Education program/general meeting only. Speaker: Sara Cranford of Our Voice on domestic violence and sexual trauma

Third Tuesday, March 20 – 6pm-7:30 pm – Support groups only

First Tuesday, April 3 – 6pm – 7 pm – Education program/general meeting only. Speaker: Leslie Gaidi, M.A., LP on housing in the Asheville/Buncombe area

Third Tuesday, April 17 – 6pm – 7:30 pm – Support groups only

And so on………………

ALL OTHER SUPPORT GROUP SCHEDULES REMAIN THE SAME:

First Saturday of each month 10 am – 11:30 pm – Consumer and family/caregiver support groups

Second and fourth Mondays 11 am – 12:30 pm – Consumer only support group

All groups and meetings are held at 356 Biltmore Avenue, Suite 207, second floor. We are located next to the St. Joseph Hospital campus of Mission Hospital. Please call 828-505-7353 or email us at namiwnc@yahoo.com if you have questions.

The full support group schedule through June appears on our website support group page.