Pam Hemingway grew up in a family affected by mental illness and sought therapy, as an adult, to help cope with the fallout. But it wasn't until joining a local Family-to-Family class two years ago that Pam realized there was a place where she could find empowerment, education, and community.

"It changed my life," says Pam, whose mother and brother are affected by mental illness. "By the end, I felt the veil was lifted. So many misunderstandings were cleared up. I had places to reach out to for hope."

In fact, Pam, an East Haven resident, found the Family-to-Family education and support course so valuable, she went back to become a trained instructor. The course is a program of non-profit National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Like all trained Family-to-Family instructors, "We're family members of people with mental illness," explains Pam. "In addition to our training, the thing that qualifies us is that we know exactly what you're going through."

Beginning Saturday, March 2 at 9 a.m., Pam leads a free, 12-week NAMI Family-to-Family course in Branford at the shoreline offices of BH Care. The course meets once a week for about two hours.

Offered in Connecticut for several years, word about NAMI Family-to-Family is spreading and courses fill up fast.

"Last semester, I taught a class [formed] because the Naugatuck class was filled with 20 and there was a waiting list. The need is there," says Pam.

Open to all caregivers of adults, teens, and adolescents with mental illness, Family-to-Family assists family members of people living with major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, and other mental illnesses.

"We get the full spectrum," says Pam. "No matter the diagnosis, a lot of the experiences are the same. You can see a common thread."

Everyone is seen as a valued participant, she adds.

"Some people are there just because they're interested in understanding more, but what they find is it also helps people to understand you are not alone-there are other people who know exactly what you're going through, and there is help. One of the best things about it is that a community forms. People talk to one another [and] share stories, challenges, and triumphs. They encourage each other."

Because of the stigma often connected with mental illness, family members may feel shame and even guilt about the person in their care. Also, despite dealing with medical professionals, caregivers also may not fully understand the ramifications of the disease or medications and therapies prescribed. The NAMI Family-to-Family program helps to educate participants about those areas and more.

"You get education, you get a perspective," says Pam. "We share resources on everything from understanding medications to dealing with Social Security Disability benefits and things like what's available if you can't afford private help or how to advocate for the person in your care-and it's absolutely free."

New topics are covered weekly. Participants leave with a binder filled with material and a wealth of information and resources to help provide continued assistance, including other options offered by NAMI.

But of all the things a participant will take away, "one of the most important things you learn is that it's not your fault. That is the loudest message we're sending," says Pam.

"For most people, this course is their first introduction, and Psychology 101 can't possibly touch what we have to offer. We share the science, but beyond that, we provide relativity to it. I do this because it changed my life and I want to give back to the community and to the organization that helped me."

Pre-registration is required for the upcoming 12-week NAMI Family-to-Family free education course beginning Saturday, March 2 at 9 a.m. at BH Care Shoreline Offices, 14 Sycamore Way, Branford (the course is open to Connecticut residents of all towns). To register, email pgreen148@gmail.com or call 860-416-1205. The course and all materials are free. For more information on NAMI and its programs, visit www.nami.org.