NAMI Mississippi, the state affiliate of the National Alliancefor the Mentally Ill, is stepping up its campaign to educate andsupport relatives and friends of those who suffer from mentalillness, as well as the public.

Karen Temple, southern region program coordinator for NAMIMississippi, said the group will kick off a support group tonightfor family members of those who are mentally ill. And that’s alarger segment of the population than many may believe, shesaid.

“If we’re honest with ourselves, we all know someone with amental illness of some form,” Temple said.

The group will meet from 7 until 8 p.m. at the Life SkillsBuilding on Monticello Street.

Temple stressed that the meetings are for those caring formentally ill relatives, not those who are mentally ill. There is nocost to attend the support group meetings.

NAMI, Temple said, aims to help people understand mentalillness.

“Our goal is to help society get over the myths they have aboutmental illness,” she said. “The majority of people with mentalillness are no more dangerous than the little old lady living nextdoor.”

Later this month, NAMI Mississippi will offer Visions forTomorrow, classes designed for caregivers of children with braindisorders. According to Temple, these caregivers may includeparents, extended family members or foster parents.

Teaching of the Visions for Tomorrow will be trained familymembers of mentally ill children who have firsthand experience withthe challenges involved. Among the teachers is Amanda McCaffery, ofBogue Chitto, whose son was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, ahigh-functioning form of autism.

McCaffery also will facilitate the family member support groupalong with Betty Wicker, or Wesson.

Classes for the Visions for Tomorrow program begin Feb. 24 andwill continue 6:30-9 p.m. every Thursday for eight weeks, McCafferysaid.

Participants in the free course will receive reference notebooksfull of information concerning day-to-day caregiving for mentallyill children, she said.

Participation in the class is limited to 22. Sessions will beheld in Wesson, and Temple urged interested parents to call her at(601) 783-5745 or NAMI Mississippi at 1-800-357-0388 for the exactlocation.

Other upcoming events sponsored by NAMI Mississippi include aseminar for teachers and a fund-raising walk.

The teachers’ seminar, to be held 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. March12, will instruct area educators on the skills needed toeffectively teach mentally ill children.

“The teachers will gain information on how to deal with childrenand adolescents who suffer from mental illness,” Temple said.

She said the instructors will address illnesses includingattention deficit disorder, autism, Asperger’s syndrome andTourette’s disorder, among others.

“We’ll help them better communicate with children in theclassroom who are coping with these various diseases,” Templesaid.

The free seminar will be held at the Pike-Amite-Walthall Libraryon Virginia Avenue in McComb. A light lunch for participants willbe provided.

Looking ahead, Temple said NAMIWalks for the Mind of America,fund-raising walk, is scheduled for May 14 at Mayes Lake inJackson. Walkers will check in at 9 a.m., and the walk will beginat 10 a.m.

NAMI encourages teams of walkers to participate, and there is nocost to register.

“We’d love to see everybody in the community get involved,”Temple said.

All proceeds from the event will be used to fund NAMIprograms.

“Eighty percent (of the money raised) goes directly to yourcommunity,” Temple said, adding that 10 percent each goes to thestate and national chapters of NAMI to be used in Mississippi. Shesaid there will no administrative or overhead costs deducted fromthe money raised.

Anyone interested in more information on the walk may call DebraWertz of NAMI Mississippi at (601) 899-9058.