NATCHEZ &8212; Caring for a mentally ill family member can be made easier with education, said Ann Jensen, who has had first-hand experience with the challenge.

On Sept. 5, Natchez-area families for the first time will have access to a program coordinated by Jensen, program specialist at the state office of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Called &8220;Family to Family,&8221; the 12-week program is designed to teach family-member caregivers about the major brain disorders, the brain biology of the illnesses, treatments and how to cope with a family member who has the disease.

&8220;It&8217;s free,&8221; Jensen said. &8220;And the teachers are trained family members who have experienced this and have gone through training to help others.&8221;

The classes focus on the major brain disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, clinical depression, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

&8220;The curriculum is appropriate for age 15 and up,&8221; Jensen said.

The classes will meet in the Magnolia Room on the first floor at Natchez Regional Medical Center from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Registration for the class is required and is available by calling 1-800-357-0388.

&8220;There are always two teachers, the same two, each week,&8221; Jensen said.

&8220;We&8217;ve been offering this program in Mississippi for about 10 years, but this is the first time we&8217;ve been able to offer it in Natchez.&8221;

NAMI in Mississippi is funded through grants and funds from the state Department of Mental Health. The Natchez program is open to families in the nearby Louisiana area, as well.

&8220;I hope people will take advantage of this information,&8221; Jensen said.

&8220;They don&8217;t have to try to deal with these family problems alone.&8221;

Jensen said her own family includes a member with a brain disorder. She, too, has gone through the &8220;Family to Family&8221; program.

&8220;Families will come away with a binder of information. It will make a difference. It has for my family,&8221; she said.

In all of North America, more than 80,000 people have taken part in the program.

The Mississippi agency offers two other education programs.

&8220;Peer to Peer&8221; is for the person who has the brain disorder.

&8220;Visions for Tomorrow&8221; is for parents with children who have emotional and behavioral difficulties.