The United Church of Milton will host a presentation by the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont to help its community create a more welcoming atmosphere for peers and family members coping with mental illness.
“We look forward to meeting with the members of the church and other community members who want to attend to share information on mental illness and the impact it has on the lives of so many families,” says NAMI Vermont program director Laurie Emerson. “We hope that our message opens the door to more dialogue and creates a better understanding about the resources that are available to individuals and families that have been affected by mental illness.”
NAMI Vermont’s presentation “Bridges of Hope” provides education about mental illness that will help the church create a welcoming community of faith for people living with serious mental illness. Several NAMI Vermont members will share their stories about how mental illness has affected their family. The presentation will cover the following topics and end with a Q&A panel discussion:
- What is mental illness? How does it impact individuals, families, and communities?
- What is the role of the faith community in helping people and families affected by serious mental illness?
- Who is NAMI Vermont and what does it offer to individuals, families and faith communities?
Date: Friday, March 28th – 10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Location: United Church of Milton, Main Street, Milton, Vermont
The United Church of Milton will also be hosting a separate webinar at 11:30 a.m. from Saddleback Church in Lake Forest California with Pastor Rick and Kay Warren – “The Role of the Church in Mental Health”
NAMI Vermont Presenters:
- Laurie Emerson, Program Director, NAMI Vermont
- Bernie Profili, NAMI Vermont Member, Consumer Council Chairman, Provider Education Teacher, and previous Connection Support Group Facilitator
- Crystal Bluto, NAMI Vermont Intern, Member, Provider Education Teacher, and Connection Support Group Facilitator
- Karlo and Carolyn Salminen, NAMI Vermont Members and Family Support Group Facilitators in Georgia
