Contact Us
Office Hours: Mon - Fri 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
New Address:
1150 S. Bascom Ave.
Suite 24
San Jose, CA 95128
Ph. (408) 453-0400
Fax (408) 453-2100
info@namisantaclara.org
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Welcome to NAMI Santa Clara County
NAMI Santa Clara County is one of the largest Bay Area NAMI
affiliates of the the NAMI California and the National Alliance on
Mental Illness (NAMI). We offer practical experience, support, education,
comfort and understanding to anyone concerned about mental illnesses (primarily
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, clinical depression and OCD) and their
treatment of services in Santa Clara County.
In addition, we work with public organizations, private businesses
and the media to increase organizational and personal knowledge of effective
ways to deal with the illnesses while advocating for increased research and improved
services for individuals with mental illness.
NAMI SCC Office Has Moved
As of February 5th 2013, our San Jose office, previously at 2010 N. 1st Street, has moved to 1150 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 24, San Jose 95128 (very close to the Campbell border). Our telephone numbers have not changed.
General Meeting
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
Panel Discussion About Consumer Programs at NAMI SCC
Where: Good Samaritan Hospital Auditorium
2425 Samaritan Drive, San Jose.
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pm
More...
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NAMIWalk SF Bay Area
Saturday June 1st, 2013
Lindley Meadow, Golden Gate Park
Save the date for this year's NAMIWALK SF Bay Area! That's Saturday, June 1st, 2013, in Lindley Meadow, Golden Gate Park.
Further details at www.namiwalksfbay.org, then Register to Walk, Donate to your favorite Walker, or Support Our Walk (page down) to become an Event Sponsor. Questions? Call the NAMI Santa Clara County office Warmline (408-453-0400) or email vmitchem@hotmail.com and we'll find answers for you.
Walk Day Volunteers Needed: Would you like to Staff the Check-In Booth; Be part of our Safety Crew; Help set up the course; Staff the water stop. Do you have special skills such as Medical, Cheerleader, Face Painter, CIT? Please complete the online Volunteer Form. To find out more, call the office at 408-453-0400 or email Gini at vmitchem@hotmail.com.
Call the NAMI office now (408-453-0400) to make your reservation for the bus to Golden Gate Park and NAMIWalk! First come, first served, and seats are filling up fast. Many thanks to the Santa Clara County Mental Health Department for arranging this transportation.
NAMIWalks Santa Clara County Wallpaper
Show your support for our teams by downloading and installing the wallpaper of NAMIWalks 2013. It's a fun reminder of the date of the event this year.
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Adopt-A-Program NAMI SCC's New Fundraising Campaign
NAMI SCC has just rolled out a new campaign, called "Adopt-A-Program," to address the needs of our growing affiliate, in large part due to the demand for our support groups and education programs. Even though we offer all of our services for no fee to anyone living with mental illness and their families, we have increasing costs for trainings, supplies, compensation for teachers and presenters, as well as our office space where many of our programs take place. This fundraising campaign will allow us to continue to grow.
We have set $150,000 as our goal, and as you can see from the thermometer, we are approximately one-third of the way there. Won't you consider "adopting-a-program" too? Any amount donated is appreciated; and it is also tax deductible.
Click here to read the details...
Job Opportunities at NAMI Santa Clara
The following part-time job opportunities are currently available at NAMI Santa Clara. For details please check out our job opportunities page.
Please Join Us for some informal FUN!
Consumer group activities flyer.
Connect 2 U Social Group
Consumers, Families and Friends Social Group meet for board games, card games, light refreshments, conversation and FUN!
Time: 2 - 4 PM
Date: 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month
Location: NAMI Office
Contact: Mary Lou Snowden (408)741-1413
NAMI SC Nature Walks & Hikes—For Consumers, Families and Friends
Contact: Joe Flood (408)-529-5369
Please join us for informal NAMI Santa Clara Walks and Hikes.
When: 9:OO AM to 11:00 AM 2nd, 4th and 5th Saturdays each month.
Where: Meet at Campbell Park near the Playground area. Everyone might consider having a suitable breakfast before and we will provide light snacks and bottled water for the walks and hike.
Shoes & what to wear: Dress accordingly, wear layered clothing if cold. Good walking, running or hiking shoes are best.
Directions: Campbell Park is located intersection of Campbell & Gilman Avenues, between Downtown Campbell and Highway 17.
Parking: In the parking area or on the street
Public Transportation: Light Rail to Down town Campbell . Then east on Campbell Avenue a few blocks to the Park.
Holiday Office Hours
The NAMI office will be closed on the following holidays in 2013:
January 21: Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.
February 18: Washington's Birthday
May 27: Memorial Day
July 4: Independence Day
September 2: Labor Day
November 11: Veterans Day
November 28: Thanksgiving Day
November 29: Day after Thanksgiving
December 25: Christmas
MY FAMILY MEMBER HAS BEEN ARRESTED—WHAT DO I DO?
Despite the good efforts of CIT trained police officers, sometimes our family member's illness causes behavior that leads to arrest. NAMI SCC has an up-to-date guide to assist families when a loved one who suffers from a biological brain disorder is in the Santa Clara County criminal justice system.
Read the guide.
Inmate medication form.
Public Defender fact sheet.
Contacts in the Public Defender's Office:
Getting hygiene supplies & snacks for your loved one.
There is a service that delivers approved items to jails and prisons. The Internet site is:
www.santaclarapackages.com
The site will ask for your loved one's PFN and name. You can order kits of foods & personal hygiene items (toothbrushes, etc.) and your loved one will receive it in a fewdays. There's a limit of $50.00/week.
As far as food within the prison, there is a "commissary" service. Look on the SCC Dept. of Corrections web site for "Visiting," then "Money Orders." You can send your loved one money, but
follow the listed rules to make sure your loved one actually gets it.
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NEWS And Views
Dr. Saad A. Shakir
Dr Shakir spoke at our Jan. 2013 general meeting about trans-cranial magnetic stimulation, the latest FDA-approved treatment for depression.
Successful and Schizophrenic
Here is an excellent article in the New York Times by Elyn Saks, an accomplished law professor at University of Southern California, who has schizophrenia.
Paxil Class Action Settlement
If you paid for Paxil in California you could get a payment from a class action settelement. Here are the details.
Voices4Hope
Voices4Hope is a place for teenagers and young adults with mental health
challenges to talk with each other and gain access to information that will help them live happily and independently.
You can also learn about new research that is being conducted for people like you and discuss and bring up new ideas in the minds of young adults.
I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help
In this online video of a lecture given by Dr. Xavier Amador, author of "I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help," he discusses the 40% of those with mental illness that lack insight regarding their illness and what we can do to help.
Also Dr. Amador has an excellent shorter video explaining lack of insight. Further videos are available at his website.
Jennifer's Blog
Jennifer was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2002, and recently started writing a blog about her illness. The blog allows her to get her thoughts (and voices) out of her head and onto "paper", so that what she experiences is more concrete and clear to her and to those she share my life with. She would like share her blog with others in order to offer insight, support, and encouragement. We are not alone, and it helps to know that there are others out there who know what it's like to face symptoms on a daily or weekly basis.
Social Security Disability—Q&A
Questions about Social Security Benefits? The website www.SSDRC.com, written by a former disability examiner, addresses many of questions that arise naturally from claimants and their families. There is also a special link, that specifically pertains to bipolar disorder.
Excellent Discussion of Serious Mental Illness
A wonderful hour-long discussion, of serious mental illness is available from Charlie Rose. It features Dr. Eric Kandel, Nobel Prize winner in medicine; Elyn Saks, famous USC Law Professor and author who has schizophrenia; Kay Redfield Jamison, famous psychologist and author who has bipolar disorder; and three accomplished researchers including Helen Mayberg who talks about electrical stimulation of area 25 in the brain in treatment of depression. Schizophrenia, bipolar and depression are all discussed in the program.
NAMI Launches Social Networking Site for Young Adults
StrengthofUs.org, is a new online community where young adults living with mental health concerns can provide mutual support in navigating unique challenges and opportunities during the critical transition years from ages 18 to 25. Developed by young adults, StrengthofUs.org is a user-driven social networking community where members can connect with peers, share personal stories, creativity and helpful resources by writing and responding to blog entries, engaging in discussion groups and sharing videos, photos and other news.
Glenn Close Fights Stigma
Bring Change 2 Mind is a new global anti-stigma campaign where you can see videos of many people sharing their story including Glenn Close and her sister Jessie who has bipolar disorder. If you have a video camera, log in and share yor own story. Here is an interview with Glenn and Jessie about the campaign on ABC news.
What a Difference a Friend Makes
What a Difference a Friend Makes is a new website produced by SAMHSA for people living with mental illness—and their friends. You'll find tools to help in the recovery process, and you can also learn about the different kinds of mental illnesses, read real-life stories about support and recovery, and interact with the video to see how friends can make all the difference.
How to Help Your Ill Family Member
Much misinformation exists regarding the legal requirements for communication between mental health providers and family members of a person with a mental illness. In order to correct that misinformation, the County Mental Health Department, NAMI SCC, and a consumer group have developed a one-page summary of California's legal requirements. Among those is that consideration must be given to relevant evidence presented by family members and to the historical course of a person's illness. Two pages of forms have been developed which help family members present this information in a comprehensive, yet succinct way.
Network of Care Online Resources
Network of Care is a website where consumers, community-based organizations and municipal government workers can access a wide variety of mental health information. It includes a service directory, a library, a political advocacy tool, and community message boards. In particular, the "My Folder" section of the site, has WRAP training by Mary Ellen Copeland, that now allows all consumers the ability to do a WRAP plan.
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