The nationally recognized course “Peer to Peer” is being offered by local NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), NAMI Appalachian South. The NAMI Peer to Peer Education Course is a 10 week experiential education course on the topic of recovery and wellness for adults challenged with a mental illness. Living with a mental illness is a traumatic, challenging experience and can affect all aspects of one’s life; including work, relationships, family, and self-care. The Peer to Peer classes are lead by trained peer mentors who are themselves in recovery from mental illness and can share their successful coping strategies with others pursuing recovery. The curriculum covers major mental illnesses, a holistic approach to treatment, coping strategies, relapse prevention, and creating an advance directive for care.

Angel Medical Center's Radiothon was held last Saturday and despite a 90 percent chance of rain, was successful for a first year event. The Radiothon, which was planned to raise funds for AMC's Outpatient Medicine Expansion project, was full of live entertainment, games and great food.

The expansion project is planned to meet the growing demands of the department. The outpatient medicine department has grown to see more than 19,000 patients each year. This figure represents 25 percent of the total annual patient visits to all AMC departments and facilities.

Macon County residents dining out at local restaurants may not notice the changes, but their dining experience may soon be a little safer thanks to changes in North Carolina’s food safety code. The new rules are effective as of Sept. 1.

“Macon County Public Health environmental health staff work closely with local eating establishments to promote safe food handling practices,” said Macon County Health Director Jim Bruckner. “These new rules allow us to keep up with changes in food preparation techniques, while keeping public health and safety in mind.”

The new food code represents the most comprehensive change in North Carolina’s food protection standards in more than 30 years and establishes practical, sciencebased rules and provisions to help avoid food-borne illnesses, like noroviruses and salmonella.

Cardiac arrest rescue program

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), the North Carolina Council of Churches, the American Red Cross and Rep. Becky Carney have selected Holly Springs Baptist Church as one of 150 places of worship across the state to participate in Strive to Revive. The program aims to reduce deaths related to cardiovascular disease by providing automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and CPR training to places of worship across North Carolina.

“Our congregation is committed to protecting the health of our members, and Strive to Revive helps us take this commitment to the next level,” said Janice Lee. “With more than 400 people attending our church each week, we have the potential to save lives and make a real difference in our community.