NAMI to begin Peer-to-Peer classes beginning Dec. 9
Matt Harris
Staff writer
12-1-2016
MT. PLEASANT—The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is helping citizens beat back mental illness in Sanpete County with a new course beginning this month.
NAMI of Sanpete will be introducing its Peer-to-Peer class to Sanpete beginning Friday, Dec. 9. They are holding ten classes in total in Mt. Pleasant, and there is no cost to attend.
The course gets its name from the nature of its instructors who, in the words of NAMI Sanpete chair Vickie Anderson, “have been there.”
NAMI specifically certifies instructors who have personally dealt with mental illness to teach the course. Marty Muller and Jen Myers are teaching Peer-to-Peer in Sanpete after they completed the NAMI Peer-to-Peer Training Course in Salt Lake and were certified as instructors.
“[The course] made me feel I was not alone in coping with mental illness,” an anonymous course participant says. “It gave me hope that I could recover and that my life would not always be filled with chaos. It gave me positive role models to inspire me to strive for recuperation and success in life.”
Directed by Muller and Myers, Anderson says the course will be taught in a confidential environment and will include presentations, open discussion, and interactive exercises. Participants will have an opportunity to learn how to:
- Create a personalized relapse prevention plan
- Interact with health care providers
- Develop confidence for making decisions and reducing stress
- Stay up-to-date on mental health research
- Understand the impact of symptoms on your life
- Access practical resources on how to maintain your journey toward recovery
Anderson expressed much excitement about Sanpete being the only area in central and southern Utah to offer this class.
“Mental illness is a serious health concern and affects individuals from all walks of life,” Anderson said. “It not only affects the individual but also all those who love and care about them. Our goal as the Sanpete affiliate of NAMI Utah is to provide education and support for individuals with mental health issues and also for their family and friends in an informal, confidential environment. Our message is:‘Treatment works, recovery is possible, there is hope and you are not alone.’”
To register for the course, interested residents can directly contact Myers by calling or texting 435-660-6055. It is required in the message to include a name and a phone number where one can be reached.
The address for the course is 125 South State Street, Room No. 2, in Mt. Pleasant.
