HONOLULU – The role that families play in helping people with mental illness will be discussed at a conference later this month.

The Hawai'i state Department of Health's Adult Mental Health Division and the Hawai'i Consortium for Continuing Medical Education will present the 5th Annual Best Practices Conference titled, "Family Psychoeducation: Fortifying Families of Birth and Choice," April 23-25 at the Hawai'i Convention Center in Honolulu.

This year's conference will focus on the role of 'ohana in helping people with mental illness. Family psychoeducation programs provide education, emotional support and problem-solving skills for families to better equip them in supporting loved ones who have a mental illness, according to a news release from the event organizers.

Approximately 300 people, including consumers of mental health services and their families, professionals and other stakeholders are expected to attend this year's conference. Among other topics, sessions will cover family psychoeducation in international, national and local communities across a broad range of cultures. There will also be an open forum where local mental health consumers will share their personal stories of recovery. A locally produced film, Kokua I Na Kupuna, will focus on the integration of Hawai'i's older adult population into mental health services.

For more information, visit www.amhd.org/best/ or contact the Mental Health Services Research, Evaluation, and Training Program by calling 808-735-3435 or e-mailing best@amhd.org.