The difficulty and frustration of having a family member with a mental illness is universal, but it is oftentimes a very solitary struggle. The mentally ill do not share the kind of popular support that is afforded to other, less common afflictions, a reflection of the stigma and fear that still surrounds disorders of the brain. The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Massachusetts is reaching out to Islanders affected by the complexities of relationships, whether family members or significant others, of individuals with a serious mental illness. Along with the Mass. Department of Mental Health, NAMI is sponsoring a free educational course on the Vineyard. This course covers information about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders and borderline personality disorder, as well as addressing the often-overlooked issues particular to these relationships, such as coping skills, crisis and relapse, listening and communication, problem solving, limit-setting, and the family caregiver’s need for self-care. The course is not open to individuals who themselves suffer from a serious mental illness, unless their condition is stable and they wish to attend as caregivers for close relatives who have a mental illness.

The weekly classes run 6:30 to 9 p.m. from Thursday, Feb. 18, to Thursday, May 6. The class is limited to 20 people and advance registration is required, with meeting location given upon registration. For more information or to register, please call 508-693-5872 or visit namimass.org.