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.

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General Meeting

There are no general meetings during the Summer.

Next meeting Tuesday September 9th, 2008 at Good Samaritan Hospital Auditorium.

More...

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New: NAMI Santa Clara Walking Group

Improve your mood, burn a few calories, get out and meet people with the new NAMI Santa Clara Walking Group. We meet at the NAMI Santa Clara Office every Sunday at 4:30pm for a moderate walk. All you need to walk is a good pair of walking shoes, sunscreen, water bottle, and comfortable clothing. All levels welcome!

For more information call Lorraine or Sophia at the office or read the flyer...

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NAMI Launches Veterans Resource Center

Recently, NAMI National launched its Veterans Resource Center, www.nami.org/veterans, an online portal to mental health resources for America's veterans, active duty service members, and their families. Many of our veterans who are returning home from active duty face a second war at home, confronting profound mental health problems that challenge their lives and the lives of their families.

Consider these statistics:

• Almost 1 in 3 veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq confront mental health problems.
• In 2006, the suicide rate in the Army reached its highest level in 26 years.
• Approximately 30% of veterans treated in the Veterans health system suffer from depressive systems, two to three times the rate of the general population.
• More Vietnam veterans have now died from suicide than were killed directly during the war in the 1960s and 70s.
• Approximately 40% of homeless veterans have mental illnesses. Approximately 57% of this group are African American or Hispanic veterans.

In an effort to respond to these issues, NAMI's Veterans Resource Center features a growing compilation of fact sheets, self-help information, online discussion groups, research and policy updates, and links to government agencies and other private organizations. NAMI has made the Center a priority to meet the growing need.

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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.

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Read all about it at www.nami.org.

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DONATE Your Vehicle to NAMI Santa Clara

More details available here. Or go straight to the donation form.