NAMI Marion County E-Newsletter Volume 1 Issue 5

June, 2018

NAMI Marion County - Onward and Upward! We are pleased to announce that our grant application to United Way of Marion County was approved. Coming soon - NAMI Mental Wellness Now . We have partnered with the Marion County Mental Wellness Coalition, Meridian Behavioral Health Services, and the Marion County Public Library System to provide scheduled mental wellness screenings at the following library locations: Belleview, Dunnellon, Forest, Ft. McCoy and Reddick. People scoring high may need additional counseling services and will have access to initial counseling via telehealth at the same location where they did the screening. Everyone will have access to resource information. Find Help. Find Hope.

NAMI Marion County, P.O. Box 5753, Ocala, Florida 34478-5753 (352) 368-2405

NAMI MARION COUNTY APPRECIATES THE SUPPORT OF: ‌

"Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shames us all." (Bill Clinton)

NAMI in the Lobby The Centers and The Vines Hospital have both invited NAMI to have NAMI in the Lobby friends available in their adult outpatient departments. NAMI Marion County will be there to discuss NAMI education and support classes to patients and their families. Information will be available on community resources...all working with their current medication and treatment.

We need volunteers! With new programs starting and existing programs in progress, we need help - NOW! All volunteers must be NAMI members. Immediate needs are for the NAMI in the Lobby and NAMI Mental Wellness Now programs. We also need leaders for NAMI support groups: Family Support and Peer Connection Recovery. Leaders for our education classes Peer-to-Peer and Family-to-Family are also needed. There are prerequisites and in-depth training required for support group and education class leaders. However, the other volunteer positions primarily require a two-hour orientation only. We could use a desktop wizard to help with this newsletter, assist with social media, staff booths at outreach event, it would be great to have a Volunteer Coordinator....the list goes on. If you want to help people whose lives have been affected by mental illness, please join us and VOLUNTEER! Visit our website at www.namiocala.org or call (352) 236-0483 for additional information.

VISIT THE "NAMI MARION COUNTY" FACEBOOK PAGE AND "LIKE" US! We will keep you up-to-date on services, education and support groups. Stay up-to-date on our efforts to remove the stigma from mental illness and about advocacy efforts in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. Why join NAMI? People will listen. The voices of NAMI members strengthen the organization’s impact with local, state and national leaders and legislators to spread awareness, shape legislation and remove stigma. Invite your family and friends to join too! Visit our website to keep up-to-date on NAMi services and activities, and to join, update or renew your membership at www.namiocala.org Membership fees are $40 individual, $60 household, or open door membership is $5.

NAMI SUPPORT GROUPS Support groups are free, confidential, respectful and supportive. No registration is necessary for support groups.   The Connection Recovery Support Group is a free, peer-led support group for adults living with mental illness. It meets at First United Methodist Church on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. in the Old Fellowship Hall on the northwest side of the campus (downstairs).   The NAMI Family Support Group meet every first and third Tuesday of the month at First United Methodist Church of Ocala, Room #31, 1126 E. Silver Springs Blvd, at 7:00 p.m. in Building G.   There is another NAMI Family Support Group in Lady Lake. They meet on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in St. Timothy's RC Church Hall, Room #7, 1351 Paige Place. Coming Soon! Family-to-Family Education Class. A new concept in education for families of loved ones who are affected by mental illness. Registration is required. For more information, contact us at www.namiocala.org Above: Gerry Brent, Executive Director NAMI Marion with Dorothy and other "twisters." Right: NAMI Marion VP Diana Williams with her masterpiece.

Having fun at Painting With A Twist! Top: Stephen Quintyne, CEO The Vines with Dorothy Conway Comeau NAMI VP. Below: Thank you to the many sponsors that supported these events. Special thanks to The Vines Hospital for hosting three events during Mental Health Awareness Month with all proceeds going to NAMI Marion. Above are pictures from Painting With A Twist that resulted in a donation of over $1,200. On May 15th we all ate at Chipotle's and realized a donation from them of over $400. Finally, the Vines Expo on May 17th brought in additional donations as well as the opportunity to meet the employees and patients and sign up new memberships and receive donations...Resulting in a final total of almost $3500! Meridith Johnson is the Vines Business Development Director and she worked tirelessly. Thank you to Meridith, Stephen Quintyne CEO of the Vines, and everyone who participated!

Help for families of Military Veterans: NAMI Homefront NAMI Homefront is a free, online six-session class for family, friends and significant others of Military Service Members and Veterans. It helps families comprehend what the Military Service Member/Veteran is experiencing. USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO REGISTER* https://www.research.net/r/homefrontonline   *All participants are screened to ensure this class is appropriate for their needs.