MARQUETTE — Family members and friends of individuals with a mental illness may greatly benefit from a 12-week “Family to Family” education course to be offered by National Alliance on Mental Illness Alger/Marquette.

The 12-week series of classes is free and confidential. Classes will be held Tuesdays, Feb. 11 through April 28 from 6-8:30 p.m. at 129 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette.

The course will cover a broad range of topics, including information about schizophrenia, mood disorders (bipolar disorder and major depression), panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and PTSD.

This will be the 16th time this class has been offered in this area and is presented by trained educators.

The course is designed specifically for parents, siblings, spouses, teenage and adult children, significant others and friends of people with a mental illness.

This course also helps people understand that this is an illness and not something they can just “deal with it, shape up” as most times they just have no control over their actions.

Call to register for the classes by today to confirm the start date. For further information or to register, call Louise (906-235-0231), or Niki (906-458-1547), or Cindy (906-360-7107).