Class Description      What Participants Say

NAMI’s Peer to Peer Class

If you’re a consumer who’s ever wondered...

• What does my diagnosis mean?
• How can I prevent relapse?
• How can I deal with my mood swings and/or racing thoughts?
• What do I do if I have a co-occurring addiction?
• How might spirituality and medication aid in recovery?
• How do I improve my interpersonal relationships?
• What are coping strategies for dealing with the trials of mental illness?
• How do I make good decisions for myself?
• What can I do to ensure my wishes are carried out in the event of a mental health crisis?
• How do I stay safe in a hospital or jail setting?
• How do I become a mental health advocate?

Then NAMI’s Peer to Peer Recovery Education Class might be for you. Peer to Peer is a free, ten week class for mental health consumers. The course is taught by trained consumers who have “been there.” There is absolutely no cost to you, and it is a great setting in which to meet other consumers who are going through what you are going through. The class is a safe, confidential setting in which to focus on recovery.

Benefits of the program include:

• Learning about the various diagnoses
• Getting to know other consumers
• Developing a comprehensive, personalized relapse prevention plan
• Learning how to move from despair to acceptance to advocacy

Peer to Peer’s week by week curriculum is as follows:

• Week One: Orientation, Getting to Know Each Other
• Week Two: Introduction, Stigma, Discrimination, Begin relapse Prevention Plan
• Week Three: Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Thoughts, Feelings, Sleep. Continue Relapse Prevention Planning
• Week Four: Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Senses, Behavior. Continue Relapse Prevention Planning.
• Week Five: Storytelling
• Week Six: Language, Emotions, Continue Relapse Prevention Planning
• Week Seven: Addictions, Spirituality, Medication, Complete Relapse Prevention Plans
• Week Eight: Coping Strategies, Decision Making
• Week Nine: Relationships, Family Member Guest Speaker, Begin Advance Directives
• Week Ten: Empowerment, Advocacy, “Complete” Advance Directive, Graduation and Party.

After a student has completed the program, they are encouraged to apply to become a class Mentor. They may also keep up with other graduates at reunion dinners held several times a year. If you are interested in the Peer to Peer Education Course, please contact the Consumer Programs Coordinator, at 301-949-5852, or p2p@namimc.org