Mental health group to offer recovery courses

Feb. 05--NAMI of Otsego County wants those who are struggling with mental illness to know that they aren't alone, according to an organizer Wednesday.

To show this, the local chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness is offering a free 10-week recovery education course for adults suffering with mental health disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to Kate Hewlett, one of the NAMI peer mentors who will be teaching the class.

Classes will take place every Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mountain View Social Club on River Street, Hewlett said. The last class will be held on May 21.

"It will be spring, winter should be over and it'll be a good way to get out of the house," Hewlett said Wednesday.

Co-teaching with Hewlett will be Tammy Burrows, another peer mentor. The duo hosted the same class in September, which was successful, Hewlett said. There were about seven participants.

The course will feature NAMI curriculum and will include discussions, interactive activities and sharing of stories, Hewlett said.

"We'll talk about how to accept your illness and how to cope," Hewlett said. "There will be a lot of good information."

What makes the class special is the fact that those teaching it are true "peers" who have struggled themselves with mental illness, Hewlett stressed. Best of all, she said, it will be free of charge.

The class will be taught in a comfortable, casual and confidential environment, Hewlett added.

Because of the nature of the curriculum, space is limited, with room for about 10 to 12 participants, Hewlett said.

To register for the class, contact otsegopeer2peer@gmail.com.

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