Free Family Mental Health Workshops To Be Held at Novi Public Library

The will host a three-part interactive program series this winter on brain science and mental health.

The "Opening Minds" series will be presented by the Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority (OCCMHA), the public mental health system that provides services and support to approximately 20,000 Oakland County residents who are adults and children with developmental disabilities, adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbance.

The series includes the following workshops:

• Jan. 30: The Impact of Bipolar Disorder on the Family presented by Jacqueline Castine, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Feb. 22: Mental Health Literacy presented by Eric Hipple, 7-8:30 p.m.
• March 22: Growing Old Gracefully presented by Leonard Rosen, M.D., 1-2:30 p.m.

The first workshop in the series is an interactive discussion on the impact of bipolar disorder on the family. Attendees at the series will learn more about bipolar disorder, its relationship to substance abuse, early signs and symptoms, how to get treatment, and how to respond to people who struggle with mental health issues, (especially those who deny they have an illness). This is an interactive class.

Jacqueline Castine speaks from her personal experience recovering from chemical dependency, codependency and bipolar disorder and as the mother of two adult children who have struggled with substance abuse and bipolar disorder. Castine is also the author of I Wish I could Fix It, But...

Those interested can pre-register for one or all of the workshops by calling Debbie Wisser at 248-858-0929.