Press Release

July 5, 2006
Contact: Kaylyn Kendall Dines
Phone: (973) 972-3000
dineskd@umdnj.edu

UMDNJ Sponsors Free Psychoeducation Sessions on Mental Illness

PISCATAWAY - Health professionals at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey are sponsoring two, free workshops as part of a behavioral health program for caregivers and families. Both sessions will take place at UMDNJ-University Behavioral Health Care, 671 Hoes Lane (Room D201), in Piscataway, on Wed., July 12, and Wed., July 19.

The informational workshops, which are part of a summer education program at UMDNJ’s University Behavioral HealthCare, are being sponsored by the Intensive Family Support Services of Middlesex County for men and women who have a family member with a mental illness. Each workshop will include a presentation by a mental health professional and a question and answer period.

On Wed., July 12, Jeanne Schmidt, a family counselor at UMDNJ’s Intensive Family Support Services of Middlesex County, and Elizabeth Golden, president of NAMI Middlesex County will facilitate a workshop called, “Community Resources for People with Mental Illness and Family Members.” During the session, a variety of resources will be provided on support, education and advocacy groups, housing, partial-care programs, and employment options.

On Wed., July 19, a workshop entitled “Relapse Prevention & Improving Family Communication,” will be conducted by Rose Zayco, a family counselor at UMDNJ’s Intensive Family Support Services of Middlesex County. She will provide participants with techniques for recognizing and coping with crisis. Suggestions for strengthening communication between family members will also be offered.

To register for the workshops, call Rose Zayco, of UMDNJ’s Intensive Family Support Services of Middlesex County, at 732-235-6184.

UMDNJ is the nation's largest free-standing public health sciences university with more than 5,500 students attending the state's three medical schools, its only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and its only school of public health, on five campuses. Last year, there were more than two million patient visits to UMDNJ facilities and faculty at campuses in Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway, Scotch Plains, Camden and Stratford. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, a mental health and addiction services network.