Courage to Caregivers is a nonprofit organization serving North America with a mission to offer hope, support, and courage to caregivers and loved ones of those living with mental illness. We're in the caregiver burnout prevention business. It was founded on the belief that when you support someone you love who is living with mental illness, it is absolutely essential to put on your own "oxygen mask" of self-care, overall health and well-being before helping those around you. In a validating, nonjudgmental environment, participants will develop the inner strength required to support their loved ones and, most importantly, to care for themselves.
Description
Courage to Caregivers is a nonprofit organization founded in 2017 to provide education, support and empowerment for caregivers and loved ones of those living with mental illness.
Courage to Caregivers launched our first program, One-to-One Caregiver Peer Support, in November 2018. Recognizing that self-care is the "oxygen mask" for the mental illness caregiver, this program connects caregivers with trained volunteers who have experience caring for someone with a mental illness. The purpose of the program is to provide participants with support and resources to help them take care of themselves both physically and emotionally so they are better able to take care of someone else. This is a virtual program offering.
Courage to Caregivers offers two other programs (now virtually): Professionally-led Support Groups - We want caregivers to know they are not alone. Our support groups are co-facilitated by both a counselor or social worker as well as a trained peer specialist who has experience caring for a loved one with mental illness. The goals for our support groups include reinforcing a variety of skills that seek to build resilience and empower the mental illness caregiver as well as establish a caring community. Breathing Meditation Classes - We know that meditation allows you to better manage day-to-day and critical stressful situations. We have found that utilizing proper breathing techniques is vital to the regulation of our stress levels.
