Mental Health

Mental illness is an elusive and consuming challenge for families. As a parent, how do you help your child not only stay safe but also succeed? How do you build resilience for yourself, your family, and your child?

This month, the Multnomah branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is beginning their next NAMI Basics program. This program is FREE and is taught by parents and caregivers of children with serious behavioral challenges who have been trained by NAMI. The Winter class begins on January 17th on Thursday evening in NE Portland. But if you can’t make this course, there are Spring and Summer courses as well. If you or a family you know is struggling with the challenges that come with a mentally ill child or adolescent, call 503.228.5692 or visit NAMI’s website to get more information and register for a course. There, you can also find a list of mental health resources for children and families.

Sharing with each other is an effective way to experience validation in your challenges, brainstorm ideas and coping skills, and decompress some of the stress caring for a child with mental illness can bring. One wonderful resource is Trillium’s Support group for families called “Talk it Over.” This group meets every two weeks at the Providence Child Center.

If you’re a parent or caregiver of a child with behavioral challenges or mental illness and you’re finding yourself feeling increasingly isolated and exhausted, please call our office. We want to know if there are unmet needs so we can help address them and connect you with additional resources.