NAMI Contra Costa
P.O. Box 21247
Concord, CA 94521

(925) 465-3864
xnamicc@aol.com

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.

Evening in the Tropics Gallery


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Family to Family Classes


General Contact Info:

Thomas Cloney: 510-705- 2608 famtofamcc@gmail.com

Family to Family Education Program is a twelve week, free week-night series for family members and friends of those individuals with mental illnesses.

Class Schedule:
May - Pleasant Hill
September - Lafayette & Richmond

For information and/or registration contact Nancy Seibert at
fam2fam4u@gmail.com or 925-285-5995

Pleasant Hill F2F Class:

When: Wednesday, May 16th
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Where:404 Gregory Lane
Pleasant Hill
Hillcrest Congregational Church

Download the flyer here.

Contact Information:
Nancy Seibert: 925-285-5995 fam2fam4u@gmail.com

Veterans F2F:

When: Monday, June 11
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Where: Martinez VA Campus
150 Muir Road

Download the flyer here.

Contact Information:
Susan Horrocks:
925-262-3404 or sl2read@comcast.net
NAMI Office:
925-942-0767 or namicc@att.net

De Familia a Familia

Curso gratuito de 12 semanas.
Para mayor información, haga click aquí.

Para mayor informacion, contactar a Verónica a 925-250-4034 ó defamiliaafamilia@pacbell.net.


Peer to Peer Classes
Starting May 19, 2012

The next Peer - To - Peer class will be starting Saturday May 19, 2012 through July 28 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Classes will be held in Central Contra Costa County with the location to be announced soon.

For information or to get an application for the next available class, please contact
The NAMI CC Office:
(925) 942-0767
namicc@att.net


NAMI-CC Care and Support Group


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.


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


NAMI FaithNet

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: Kay Derrico
(925) 933-4012
kayderrico@comcast.net

NAMI Office
(925) 942-0767


NAMI-CC Writers' Group

1st thursday 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


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.


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




Special Events

FaithNet Conference

 

What:
A conference for faith leaders and others interested in creating welcoming communities for those with mental illness and their loved ones

When:
Saturday, November 10, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Where:
Concord Rooms I and II, Concord Campus of John Muir Medical Center, 2540 East St., Concord

Fee: TBA

Presenters:
A partnership with NAMI CC, John Muir's Faith and Health Partnership Program, Sozo Health & Wellness Services, and Minister Monique Tarver

RSVP/Information:
kayderrico@comcast.net or
925-933-4012