NAMI
is deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred [in California and] over the weekend in Texas and Ohio. These mass shootings are far too common and impact every corner of our nation. Every time we experience a tragedy like this, people with mental illness are drawn into the conversation. The truth is that the vast majority of violence is not perpetrated by people with mental illness. Statements to the contrary only serve to perpetuate stigma and distract from the real issues.
NAMI
sees gun violence as a national public health crisis that impacts everyone.
“In the U.S., it is easier to get a gun than it is to get mental health care,”
states Angela Kimball, acting CEO.
“We need to flip the script. It should be easy—not hard—for people to get the mental health care they need.”
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When someone is going through a storm, your silent presence is more powerful than a million empty words
--
Thelma Davis
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Families play a crucial role in the assessment of mental health and contribute to the development of a treatment plan.
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Mental health challenges not only affect the individuals but also impact their closest relationships. All relationships can be negatively impacted when a loved one suffers.
Unfortunately we all know the shame and stigma associated with mental conditions. One challenge is to talk about it with loved ones. Another challenge is to reach out for appropriate help without
denying or minimizing symptoms hoping to avoid any particular diagnosis.
While simply describing your experiences may be too painful, supportive family members can relieve some burden by articulating what you cannot.
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The event is free and
lunch is provided.
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Regional Advocacy Meeting
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NAMI Ventura County hosts this meeting which is open to all community members impacted by mental health conditions. It is designed to cover hands-on advocacy enhancement tools and information. We will go over ways for individuals and families to advocate effectively, discuss local advocacy plans for Ventura County and have a great panel discussion with local representatives.
Friday, August 16,
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m
.
Camarillo, CA
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Grow Your Grassroots
: LGBTQA+ Communities and Mental Health
Join us for a webinar with guest speaker Rachel Henry, Outreach and Training Institute Director of the Sacramento LGBT Community Center. Grow Your Grassroots webinars are designed to provide NAMI affiliates and other mental health organizations with tools to reflect and improve on current community outreach strategies in reaching diverse communities.
Tuesday, August 20,
2:00 to 3:00 p.m
.
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California Advocacy Network
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NAMI CAN calls are designed to share legislative updates with affiliates and community members. These calls are open to anyone interested in mental health advocacy. We also like to hear about local updates during the monthly CAN calls.
Thursday, August 28,
4:00 to 5:00 p.m
.
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Family & Peer Support Specialist Training
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The Family/Peer Support Specialist training program gives participants an opportunity learn educational skills such as Recovery Model and Trauma Informed Care.
All webinar sessions are guided by trained presenters and provide opportunities for live interaction.
The training series begins in September.
For questions and more information contact
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NAMI Homefront
Study shows the benefits to participants and families
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The NAMI Homefront program produces significant benefits for both in-person and online participants, according to a study published in
Psychiatric Services
, a journal of the American Psychiatric Association. The study found that participants in both formats experienced improvements in empowerment, coping, psychological distress, family functioning, the experience of caregiving and knowledge of mental illness.
This news about NAMI and this program, supports fundraising and grant requests, recruitment of volunteers, and influence with legislators.
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California's Department of Housing Asks Californians to Share Their Thoughts on Housing Needs and Challenges in Their Communities
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The State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) released a
survey
asking for Californians - from renters, homeowners, and people experiencing homelessness to developers, real-estate professionals, elected officials, and people living in rural communities - to share their opinions on housing and community needs and challenges within their neighborhoods.
In August 2019, HCD will begin hosting focus groups in inland, central, and northern California to collect additional input.
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Known as California's "Consolidated Plan," the five-year plan will be submitted to HUD and will guide how the state will spend the estimated $120 million received annually from various HUD-funded programs.
HCD is partnering with numerous statewide and regional groups to promote the survey and its importance for Californians and their communities.
Dates and details for the public focus groups will be posted on HCD's Event Calendar at the bottom of
HCD's homepage
and via email announcements.
To sign up to receive HCD's email announcements, visit
HCD's homepage
. On the right side of the page, click on "Email Sign up."
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A recent CHCF/KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation)
statewide poll
showed that Californians’ primary health care priority was ensuring that people with mental health problems have access to treatment. This finding serves as a call to action to work together to improve care for people with mental health and substance use disorder needs.
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