The Douglas County chapter of NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness, will offer a free program in Lawrence for families of those with mental illnesses.

The NAMI Family-to-Family program starts in February and deals with conditions including bipolar disorder/manic depression, major depression, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, and co-occurring brain disorders and addictive disorders.

The series of 12 weekly classes is structured to help family members understand and support their loved ones while maintaining their own well-being. The course is taught by a team of trained volunteer family members who know what it’s like to have a loved one with a serious mental illness in the family. There is no cost to participate.

During the past 17 years, over 300,000 family members in the United States, Canada and Mexico have completed this course. Classes start Feb. 1 and meet every Sunday except April 5. The last class will be April 19. Classes will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 325 Maine St.

For information or to register, contact Robin Wood at 979-6301 or robin.wood81@gmail.com.