NAMI Contra Costa
|
- Home Page
- About Us
- Mental Health and You
- Unbiased Drug Information
- Mental Illnesses
- Additional Resources
- Our Government
- Archived Articles
- Maps
- Confidentiality Form
- FAQ's
- Site Map
Donate to NAMI Contra Costa Via Paypal
Like us on Facebook
NAMI SURVIVAL GUIDE
A Practical Plan for Supporting a Loved One with a Mental Illness
Great progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of the
mentally ill in recent decades. There have been major breakthroughs
in medications and types of treatments. Resources never before available
are now a real prospect in the management of your loved one’s case.
When you have a serious legal problem, you engage an attorney to guide
you through the legal system. When you have a loved one with a mental
illness an advocate is needed to guide the case through the mental health
system. That someone must be familiar with the basics of mental illness
and the resources in the field to assist in pursuing your loved one’s
recovery.
Almost certainly that someone must be you. Mental health facilities
and programs have been overloaded and under funded for decades. You
are the one that really cares and are the one who has been and will
be in close contact with the case. But you must gain a familiarity with
the basics of mental illness and the system. Listed below are some practical
suggestions to get you started.
JOIN A STRONG SUPPORT GROUP
You can’t do it alone. You will need the education, information and support of an organization. NAMI Contra Costa is one such group. www.namicontracosta.org E mail: xnamicc@aol.com
START AND KEEP A JOURNAL
Get a 3- ring binder, fill it with lined paper, divide it into several parts and make entries as you have the time and the need. Setup one section to record observations about your subject, one on notes about ideas and concepts you think important, one on listings of various locations, facilities, programs and other resources that might be helpful in your efforts.
SETUP FILES
Setup a permanent set of files to receive all the paperwork the case will generate. Ask for a copy of any document you come in contact with. Especially copies of diagnoses and prescriptions. Follow the rule that you never let an original out of the file, but make many copies and make certain that all the folks involved in the case have a copy.
ONE PAGE SUMMARY
Do not go from office to office endlessly repeating the basics of the case. Create a summary, as you would a resume for a job search that gives the particulars of the case up to the present time. Put the subjects name, address, phone number, e mail address, and contact person (you). At the top of the sheet. Use a type size that will get a lot of information on one page, but large enough to be legible (Font 10). Leave the document in the computer memory for future use. The page should be limited to just one page as that encourages the reader to actually read the material.
COVER LETTER
A very brief cover letter (Optional) may add to the flexibility of your message. Leave that in the computer’s memory.
RELEASE OF CONFIDENTIALITY
Get your loved one to sign a Release of Confidentiality at each office or facility that your loved one goes to. This is imperative. You can’t talk with the doctor or his staff without that signed document. Your can download Release of Confidentiality here.
EDUCATION AND INFORMATION
In a very short period of time you can educate yourself on the basics of mental illness. NAMI-CC offers a FREE 12 week, one night weekly, course that gives you the information you need.
SUPPORT GROUPS
These groups will give you the continuing support and information
you will need. They are held monthly throughout the county. For
information: E mail: xnamicc@aol.com.
Go to www.namicontracosta.org/calendar.htm for a dates and times of groups in the county.
You can download the Survival Guide here.
You can download the Survival Guide Form here.
Please click on each header for more information.
Family to Family
Classes
Click each location for more info.
General Contact Info:
Contact Nancy Seibert at
fam2fam4u@gmail.com or 925-285-5995
Family to Family Education Program is a twelve week,
free week-night series for family members and friends
of those individuals with mental illnesses.
Learn More About
Family to Family
Lafayette, Pleasant Hill, Danville Family to Family
Contact Information:
Nancy Seibert at
fam2fam4u@gmail.com or 925-285-5995
Richmond Family to family
Contact Information:
Baby Raff - 510.374.9651
Dolores Ruff - 510.593.7971
family2familyrichmond.nami
@gmail.com
De Familia a Familia
Curso gratuito de 12 semanas.
Para mayor información, haga click aquí.
Para mayor información contactar a:
Verónica Mc Manus:
(925) 250-4032 ó
DeFamiliaaFamilia@
namicontracosta.org
NAMI Connection is a weekly recovery support group for people that have mental illness in which people learn from each others’ experiences, share coping strategies, and offer each other encouragement and understanding.
Learn More About
NAMI Connection
When: Saturday's, 12:30 - 2:00 pm
Where:John Muir Behavioral Health Center, 2740 Grant Street, Concord, CA 94520
Held in the XPAV Lecture Room.
Contact information:
Doug Halpern: doug.halpern@hsd.cccounty.us or (925) 957-5149
Roberto Roman: roberto.roman@hsd.cccounty.us or (925) 957-5210
Peer to Peer is a 10 week class for people with any serious mental illness who are interested in establishing and maintaining their wellness and recovery.
The Next Peer to Peer class will be starting on June 12. Registration is required for this class.
You can sign up for a class using the online form or download the Peer to Peer Flyer/Application, fill it out and mail it to:
NAMI Contra Costa
550 Patterson Blvd.
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Contact information:
NAMI Contra Costa Office
(925) 942-0767
info@namicontracosta.org
NAMI CC Care and Support Group
3rd Mondy of each month
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Walnut Creek Campus
John Muir Hospital
1601 Ygnacio Valley Road
Downstairs in the Epstein
Conference Room
Park in the free public garage on the La Casa Via side of
the hospital.
Facilitated by Sharon Madison and Bob Thigpen.
For more information
E-mail: xnamicc@aol.com
or call
925-256-9640
925-676-5771 or
925-521-5121.
In Our Own Voice is a unique public education program developed by NAMI, in which two trained consumer speakers share compelling personal stories about living with mental illness and achieving recovery.
Learn More About
In Our Own Voice
For more information,
contact Alita VanHee:
925.324.9844 or alitavanhee@gmail.com
NAMI FaithNet is a new information resource for
faith communities, NAMI members and community partners and for clergy and congreations of all faith traditions who working together to create welcoming, supportive faith communities for individuals and families living with mental illness.
Contact: Monique Tarver at
moniquetarver@yahoo.com
Other Community
Support Groups
New Multi-language
Family Assistance
Family assistance for those speaking Spanish:
Veronica Mc Manus, defamiliaafamilia
@namicontracosta.org or call (925) 250-4032
Family assistance for those speaking Mandarin:
You can send an email to mandarin@namicontracosta.org and someone will get back to you soon.
New Hope Support Group
New Hope Support Group -
Offering support, education and resources to parents/caregivers of older teens and young adults diagnosed with a mood disorder, (bipolar, depression, anxiety and more).
Meets the 2nd Monday of the month at the Lafayette/Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive in Lafayette from 7-9pm.
Contact Annette 510-733-0577 or
Cyndy 925-362-9434 for more information.
Membership in the support group is free and open to the
community.
NAMI-CC Writers' Group
1st tuesday of each month
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
You may drop in or attend regularly. All are welcomed. All writing levels welcomed.
Crestwood Healing Center, far back room by back parking
area. Call for room location, as it can be tricky to find.
550 Patterson, Pleasant Hill
Contact: Susan Medlin
(925) 957-5104 or
smedlin@hsd.cccounty.us
RSVP is helpful:
Leave a message at
925-942-0767
To help with cookies, set up, or get information: leave a message at 925-942-0767
Sponsored by a partnership of NAMI CC and Office of Consumer
Empowerment
Dual Recovery Anonymous
Dual Recovery Anonymous is a 12 Step self-help program
that is based on the principals of the Twelve Steps and
the experiences of men and women in recovery with a dual
diagnosis. The DRA program helps us recover from both our
chemical dependency and our emotional or psychiatric illness
by focusing on relapse prevention and actively improving
the quality of our lives. In a community of mutual support,
we learn to avoid the risks that lead back to alcohol and
drug use as well as reducing the symptoms of our emotional
or psychiatric illness.
Tuesdays 5:45 pm to 6:45 pm
John Muir Center for Recovery Classroom B
2730 Grant Street, Concord
Contact: 925.212.2241
ClutterLess:
Clutterer's Support Group
Overwhelmed by clutter?
ClutterLess is a 510(c)3 non-profit, peer-based, self help support group for people who want to change their cluttering behaior on a deeper level than learning how to organize.
For more information,
please call us at:
925.200.1943
or visit or
www.clutterless.org