Time: Next NAMI
General Meeting
Via Zoom
For more info NAMI Pomona Valley Helpline:
(909) 399-0305
September is suicide awareness month. Join NAMI Pomona Valley for a presentation by Anne Lesser, LCSW about the most recent approaches to suicide prevention. Learn how to help during the time of COVID. The presentation will cover risk factors, how risk factors can vary across cultural groups, protective factors, precipitating factors, and warning signs.
Anne is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in Northern California, with an emphasis on young adult clients. With over 35 years of experience providing direct psychotherapeutic services, Anne served as Deputy Director of Mental Health for Humboldt County and as a Clinical Director for Pacific Clinics community mental health services. Anne has extensive experience in helping people recover from trauma, forensic mental health assessment and court ordered treatment. She has been qualified as an expert witness in California and Missouri courts.
~Zoom Instructions below~
Click below to find the Zoom Link
Hit "September General Meeting" will take you to the Zoom Link
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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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Upcoming Classes
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.
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Family to Family
The local affiliate of National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI Pomona Valley, offers its widely recognized family education course in English and Spanish.
This 12-week free course is designed for families with loved ones who have a brain illness. Illnesses addressed in this course are: Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Major Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Schizophrenia, and co-occurring mental illness and addiction brought on by
self-medication. Classes are offered in English & Spanish. Pre-registration is REQUIRED.
For more information, please contact (call or text):
Kyoni Cummings (909) 258-9864
Anyone who has previously taken Family to Family and would like to be a facilitator can contact Kyoni to get trained @ (909) 258-9864.
De Familia a Familia
NAMI Familia-a-Familia es un programa educativo, GRATIS, de 12 sesiones para familiares, parejas, amigos, y seres queridos de adultos que viven con una enfermedad mental. El curso esta diseñado para ayudar a toda la familia a entender y apoyar a seres queridos que viven con un trastorno mental, sin descuidar el propio bienestar del círculo familiar. 12 Semanas, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Para obtener más información, póngase en contacto:
Edith (909) 214-6553
Basics
Regarding children with symptoms, a six-week course teaching the fundamentals of caring for children who have shown symptoms of mental disorder before age 13. The Family to Family course description above applies also to NAMI Basics. Pre-registration is REQUIRED.
For more information, please contact:
Kyoni (909) 625-2383
Peer to Peer
Please contact us for registration details A 10-week class for adults living with mental health challenges. This Class is:
- Free and confidential
- Held once per week for two hours
- Taught by trained Peer Mentors living in recovery themselves
- A great resource for information on mental health and recovery
For more information, please contact:
We look forward to seeing you!
For more information on any class, please contact our office:
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Major stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic
If you're feeling overwhelmed by thoughts of not wanting to live or you're having urges to attempt suicide, get help now.
Most often, suicidal thoughts are the result of feeling like you can't cope or recover when you're faced with what seems to be an overwhelming life situation. There's little data yet on the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the suicide rate. But clearly the pandemic has added intense emotional and mental stress to the lives of people around the world. Fear, anxiety and depression can stem from a wide range of concerns and experiences, from personal and family issues to work-related stress.
Personal and family concerns
Situations vary, but personal and family issues may include:
- Fear that you or your loved ones will get COVID-19
- No chance to be with and comfort your loved one who is seriously ill or dying in the hospital
- Grief over the loss of a loved one to COVID-19 or another illness
- Social isolation, especially if you live alone or in a facility where visitors are temporarily not allowed
- Being in close quarters with family under stay-at-home orders, which could increase the risk of spouse, partner or child abuse
- Starting or worsening of alcohol or drug misuse
- Having other mental health disorders, such as major depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder or an anxiety disorder
Work-related concerns
Depending on the type of job you have, examples of work-related issues include:
- Anxiety due to working in a high-risk environment, such as in a hospital or nursing home, or being a first responder
- Feeling overwhelmed working in crowded health care facilities that treat people with COVID-19, especially in places that may have a shortage of personnel and personal protective equipment
- Feeling burned out and frustrated as a health care worker because you feel that you couldn't do enough for people with COVID-19 who died
- Fear and anxiety about the increased risk of COVID-19 because you're an essential worker, such as a worker in the food or transportation industry, whose job requires serving the public in person
- Worry about or actual loss of a job or business, causing financial hardship
- Worry about how you'll provide basic needs for yourself and your family if you're out of work for an unpredictable amount of time or if you lose your job
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Are We Facing a Post-COVID-19 Suicide Epidemic?
There seems to be no getting away from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Not only is social distancing and health restrictions the new norm in most parts of the world, but we are besieged by news stories about the loss of life, the dangers faced by the most vulnerable, health care professionals, and other essential personnel, and the natural exhaustion we all feel while wondering when it will end.
But what about the long-term consequences to our mental health? Will life go on as before when the pandemic finally passes or are we looking at permanent changes to how we live? Unfortunately, the damage may be more far-reaching than anyone realizes, especially in terms of suicide risk.
What About the Future?
Research studies looking at the effects of trauma in previous disasters, including the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Hong Kong and the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, has shown a significant rise in suicides both during the emergency itself and in the months that followed. With the SARS epidemic in particular, most suicides involved elderly or chronically ill people who were afraid of becoming burdens to their families due to becoming infected, a concern that is already common among many COVID-19 patients.
Finding real solutions won't be easy, especially as the coronavirus pandemic drags on. Even with video conferencing and social media to help people avoid feeling isolated, enhanced suicide prevention services will still be needed along with public education to ensure that people in crisis are aware of what resources are available to them.
But research looking at past crises can also offer some hope as well. Suicide rates actually decreased following national crises such as 9/11 due to the shared support such crises often bring. Despite the pessimism seen in recent weeks due to pandemic worries and racial protests, we can still work together to prevent unnecessary deaths and plan for a better future.
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Americans are unhappier than ever — here's how to find joy in troubled times
A new poll found Americans are the unhappiest they've been in 50 years, but there are ways to feel happier — even during a global pandemic.
According to the COVID Response Tracking Study, conducted in late-May by NORC at the University of Chicago. Only 14% of respondents said they were very happy, down 31% from the same period in 2018.
During such painful times, the idea of cultivating personal happiness might seem trivial — selfish, even — but it might just be more important now than ever before.
“All of this negative energy taxes the mind, body and spirit,” says Carla Marie Manly, a clinical psychologist and author of “Joy From Fear: Create The Life Of Your Dreams By Making Fear Your Friend.” “As such, it’s vital to intentionally counteract this toxic, fearful energy with a conscientious investment in creating happiness.”
1.Double down on physical self-care — especially exercise. Gretchen Rubin, author of numerous books including “The Happiness Project” and host of the weekly podcast “Happier with Gretchen Rubin,” says that the first step in boosting happiness is to take care of your body. “Your physical experience will always influence your emotional experience,” she says. “And exercise is the magical elixir of life.” Even light yoga or taking a quick walk can do the trick, Manly says, adding: “Research shows that a mere 12 minute walk is sufficient to create an upbeat, happy mood.”
2.Meditate. “You’ll actually foster inner joy by slowing to meditate for even five minutes at a time,” says Manly. “Meditation increases feel-good neurochemicals, as it reduces stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.”
3.Improve sleep hygiene. A good night’s sleep is hard to come by when you’re self-quarantined in a global pandemic, but rest is crucial to both physical and mental wellness. Take extra measures to at least try to regulate your sleep. “I recommend setting an alarm to go to bed, just as you set one to wake up in the morning,” says Rubin.
4.Connect with other people. “Ancient philosophers and contemporary scientists agree that connecting with people is truly important,” Rubin says, adding that even if we’re alone in quarantine, we mustn’t deprive ourselves of social interaction. “We’re fortunate that we have so much technology we can use to connect with people who aren’t nearby. Now’s also the time to look out for our loved ones who may not know how to use these technologies. Make sure they’re not left out or isolated.
5.Make your bed and declutter your space. “A lot of people feel more inner calm and happiness when their outer surroundings are more clutter-free,” says Rubin, who wrote the book, “Outer Order, Inner Calm.” “Decluttering can be difficult now, with more people home and a heavier load on your household, but whatever you can do can help give you a sense of control over your life. Making your bed, for instance, actually can make you feel better.”
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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
• Paper Cups
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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