Education and Self-Care

You’ve probably noticed the emphasis we place on three words at Courage to Caregivers – education, support, and empowerment. Those words appear prominently on our website, in all of our materials, and as underlying themes for all of our programs.

It’s no accident that education comes first. Albert Einstein was quoted as saying, “Once you stop learning, you start dying.” And when it comes to mental illness, the best way to reduce stigma and increase awareness is through better education and stronger knowledge.

We learn in many ways – through personal experience, by conducting research, and by absorbing knowledge from others, such as family members, mentors, teachers, and other supporters. We hope you count Courage to Caregivers as one of your supporters, and as a continuing resource for enlightening information.

That’s why every week we have an educational theme related to self-care (e.g., building resilience, adapting a growth mindset, prioritizing self-care, mindfulness) that we incorporate into our programs. These themes help participants focus on new ways to evaluate, manage, and succeed in their daily lives. Handouts incorporating the theme of the week offer take-home suggestions for further reflection.

And in this weekly email, I also try to share with you some of the most informative and inspirational offerings that we come across, such as NAMI Family-to-Family, Mental Health First Aid USA, and the Families for Depression Awareness webinar series.

I know I’ve learned a lot over the past couple of years as we’ve worked toward making the Courage to Caregivers mission and vision a reality, and I hope the learning never stops. It’s one of the most important ways that we all grow.

Keep learning! Keep growing!

Kristi

Kristi Horner
Founder and Executive Director

PS: And, don't forget ... if you are looking for support or interested in volunteering to provide support, remember our One-to-One Caregiver Support program.