Next NAMI
Monthly Event
February 2nd
~Online Chat~
2p -3p
Will Replay in the evening: 7:30 p.m.
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?Need Information?
NAMI Pomona Valley Helpline:
(909) 399-0305
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Support Groups
Everything is still up and running and on the same schedule; Classes, Support Groups, and General Meetings. It’s all just Virtual, online via the Video conferencing platform called Zoom. You can also contact the office for more info.
Connection Support Group Online
1st Tuesday of every month at 6:15 – 7:30 PM
Every Friday at 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Family Support Group Online
1st Tuesday of every month at 6:15 – 7:30 PM
4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Spanish/Español Family Support Group
1st Tuesday of every month at 6:15 – 7:30 PM
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If you have any questions please feel free
to call the NAMI Pomona Valley Helpline: (909) 399-0305
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NAMI Membership Dues:
Are you Current? Donations and membership are actually tax deductible!
Membership benefits include:
- Our flagship magazine, The NAMI Advocate
- Membership with NAMI National, NAMI California, and our Pomona Valley Affiliate
- Voting privileges
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Discounts at the NAMI Store and on registration at the NAMI National Convention
- Access to all the information and features on the NAMI.org website and more
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NAMI education classes and training programs are held throughout the year. Class seating is limited and fill quickly. Training programs are offered upon availability. Please fill out this contact form to be notified when registration for classes become available or for training program availability.
Support groups will continue as scheduled and info can be
found on our website.
For more information on any class, please contact our office:
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NAMI HIGHLIGHT
Congratulations to our affiliate Nami Pomona Valley who was recognized by the
City of Rancho Cucamonga for "Outstanding Leadership" at the end of the year
December 2020.
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If you Need Help Reach out
Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
1-800-273-8255 (TALK)
Other Resources Check the link below
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Public Policy & Advocacy
Sign-UP
NAMI champions better care and better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental health conditions. Join our movement!
Sign up to get Text Alerts on current petitions and stay connected with whats going on.
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Coping with Stress
Jan. 22, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety. Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will make you, the people you care about, and those around you become more resilient.
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. It’s good to be informed, but hearing about the pandemic constantly can be upsetting. Consider limiting news to just a couple times a day and disconnecting from phone, tv, and computer screens for a while.
- Take care of your body.
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Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate
- Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
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Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
- Connect with your community- or faith-based organizations. While social distancing measures are in place, try connecting online, through social media, or by phone or mail.
Helping Others Cope
Taking care of yourself can better equip you to take care of others. During times of social distancing, it is especially important to stay connected with your friends and family. Helping others cope with stress through phone calls or video chats can help you and your loved ones feel less lonely or isolated.
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Winter is When we Need Nature
Jan. 29, 2021
It is cold in the northeast today, with wind chills in the negative numbers. This morning, I bundled myself up and sat in my backyard, just for a moment, to ground myself for the day. I was blessed with a setting full moon which I watched dip below the horizon.
The changing of the season, shorter days, and colder temperatures make us more likely to retreat indoors. Less sunlight can bring seasonal affective disorder (SAD). According to American Family Physician (2000), SAD affects about 4 to 6% of the population, and 10 to 20% of all people will have some mild winter depression. Yet, hibernating can be good for us! Winter is a time to rest, restore and recharge. However, our busy minds and our demanding society does not often let us rest. As we sit, most of us are plagued with to-do lists in our brains: emails unanswered, tasks to be done and phone calls to be made. If we do not practice ways to quiet our minds, sitting still can be counterproductive. We can feel guilt rather than rest. We may beat ourselves up for our procrastination rather than reward ourselves with much-needed rest. We might feel lazy rather than restored.
Self-deprecation is hardly productive. How can we break these patterns in our brains? Mindfulness practices and self-kindness are effective in helping the mind develop neuropathways for reducing stress and being more present (Shapiro, 2020). There is a multitude of ways to practice mindfulness, finding the right one can be a fulfilling, personal journey.
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A Serious Mental Health Crisis We
Must start Talking About
Jan. 28, 2021
Years ago, I had an idea for creating a subtle screening for suicidality. When 2020 arrived, I decided to do something about it. Subtle screening items written, I turned my attention to what I thought would be a serious challenge: The relatively small percentage of participants who would endorse items tapping suicidal ideation. You see, only about 3.9% of the population experiences suicidal thoughts in an average year. With a sample of, say, 300 folks, the most people that I would normally expect to report symptoms of suicidality would be twelve; I needed more like 200. But what’s a researcher to do on a shoestring budget? Then Covid-19 happened.
In October 2020, during the most recent surge in cases and deaths, I collected my data for the screening and what did I find? My sample was very psychologically distressed. A whopping 73% had a likely diagnosis of anxiety and another 80% had a likely diagnosis of depression. And suicidality? The majority reported some suicidal thoughts; ironically, I ended up with a small but sufficient number of persons who did not endorse symptoms of suicidality. Methodologically speaking, this was fantastic news, but it was an alarming indicator of the mental health crisis we have on our hands in the U.S. during a global pandemic.
At a live forum sponsored by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health yesterday, mental health professionals stated that the number of people struggling with anxiety, depression or traumatic stress has increased from about one out of five to at least two out of five in the past 10 months. Isolation, alienation, worrying about one’s own health and that of family members and friends, and just an overwhelming feeling of dread associated with Covid-19 are permeating our lives and communities. More people we know are getting Covid-19, and more and more of us know someone who has died from it. Psychological pain associated with fear and loneliness can build up to the point where it becomes unbearable.
The upshot: It’s very likely that you, or someone you know, is experiencing serious symptoms of anxiety, depression or traumatic stress right now. It’s probably a good idea to reach out to folks you haven’t had a conversation with in a while and just check in to see how they are doing. The good news? It’s more okay than ever to talk about how crappy you’ve been feeling, because other people you know are feeling that way, too. So, please talk about it.
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Here is your opportunity to contribute and donate to
NAMI!
When making Amazon purchases, use Amazon Smile. Simply click through our Amazon Smile link and shop like you normally would. It costs you absolutely nothing extra, and a portion of your purchase price is donated to us.
You can also designate a Charity to contribute towards.
Choose NAMI Pomona Valley!
NAMI Wish List:
• Copy Paper (color and black & white)
• Water Bottles
• ½“ white binders with clear view front
• Laptops (used is fine) & projectors
• Gift Cards to Staples or Costco
THANK YOU!!!
You can bring donated items to the office during business hours or to our monthly event.
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NAMI POMONA VALLEY | 3115 N. Garey Avenue, Pomona, CA 91767
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