For veterans returning home from war, mental illness can be an unseen wound.  The Syracuse VA is continuing a successful initiative called the "NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program." 

It's a class that teaches a veteran's family members and friends the signs and sypmtoms of mentall illness like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.  It also gives information on how illness can be treated, and strategies on how to handle crisis and relapse prevention.

Program Coordinator Ann Canastra says the overall goal of the program is to educate about mental health issues and provide needed support.  "We need to help reduce the stigma. We need to grow as a community, we need to really prevent the shame that comes with the diagnosis of mental illness and help everybody become contributing members of our community."

"We listen, we help, we care and we empower families to reduce the burden of mental illness on the family through learning," said Canastra.

The 12-week course is free and open to families and friends of Veterans, or anyone who is suffering from a mental illness.   It runs on Tuesdays from 6 PM to 8:30 PM.  If you'd like more information you can contact Ann Canastra at 425-4445 or Ann.Canastra@va.gov.