RUMFORD – Families/Friends and Consumers for Education and Support, a group for families of people with mental illness and their loved ones, will resume meeting Sept. 7.

Those whose lives are affected by mental illness are invited to attend the meetings, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Beacon House at 150 Congress St.

The free weekly group sessions will include personal support, formal and informal discussion, monthly education programs and fund-raising planning.

Facilitators Diane Farnum and Rhonda Buker will again lead the meetings with help from Melissa Fallon.Farnum is the parent and foster parent of six children – some whom are now adults – with various mental health needs.

She has been involved in Maine’s mental health system as an advocate, a family educator, public speaker and legislative activist. She has a degree in social services from the University of Maine and has held several professional positions within the mental health field, including posts in program design and management, education and training.

She currently does independent training and consulting and is an emergency crisis clinician with a local mental health agency. Buker is also a parent of two children with special needs. She has extensive experience within the mental health field both professionally and as a volunteer. She is currently working one-on-one at a developmental preschool with a child who has significant disabilities.

Fallon is the parent of a little girl with autism. She has recently become involved as an advocate and support person for people with mental illness or other disabilities.

More information may be obtained by calling Buker at 824-3076 or Fallon at 364-0878.