A free program for families and caregivers of persons with a serious mental illness will be sponsored this fall by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mid-Tidewater affiliate.

The class begins Sept. 29 and will be held each Tuesday and Thursday for six weeks from 6-8 p.m. in the board room of Riverside Walter Reed Hospital, Gloucester.

The program will include a discussion of the different brain disorders (such as bipolar, schizophrenia, depression and PTSD), services that are available within the community, basic information about medications, current research and coping skills, a release stated.

“This workshop is a must for family members trying to understand the complexities of brain disorders and wanting to provide support and care to their loved ones,” said NAMI Mid-Tidewater programs administrator and instructor Sandra Mottesheard. “Over 50,000 family members have attended and have found it extremely helpful.”

Although there is no charge for this ...