News - May 2026 -

May 2026

News in this issue:

Mental Health Awareness Month
Join NAMI-Santa Clara County for our Virtual Mental Health Awareness Event
NAMI StigmaFree Workplace
Silicon Valley Mental Health Crisis Team at Risk of Losing Funding
Stanford Psychiatrist, Jacob Ballon, Talks About Schizophrenia
Mental Health 101 for Faith Communities
NAMI-SCC Family Support Groups

Provider Education
NAMI National Convention (NAMICon) 2026
NAMI California Annual Conference 2026
NAMI-SCC’s Annual Picnic
NAMIWalks Silicon Valley 2026
Membership Form
Open Volunteer position
We are hiring for multiple positions
Participate in ongoing research studies

MAY is Mental Health Awareness Month

National Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2026 focuses on reducing stigma, providing support, and fostering community highlighting the 2026 theme “More Good Days, Together”.

Key initiatives include education, virtual wellness, and advocacy to combat the fact that 1 in 5 U.S. adults experiences mental illness annually.

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Join NAMI-Santa Clara County for our Virtual Mental Health Awareness Event

Featuring a Live Screening of the Inspirational Film, “Anxious Nation”

Join us and buy your ticket at https://namisantaclara.org/anxious-nation-virtual-movie-screening-live-panel-discussion/

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NAMI StigmaFree Workplace

Will You Accept This Mental Health Challenge?

NAMI is challenging all companies across America to step up and do their part in the fight against stigma.

NAMI StigmaFree Workplace is a comprehensive initiative designed to foster mental health awareness, support, and community within organizations. Companies can cultivate environments where individuals thrive and stigma surrounding mental health is eradicated by embracing three core strategies:

Increasing awareness and education
Creating a culture of care
Ensuring access to support for all employees

Gather your employees and people managers to learn more about mental health and engage in discussion as a community.

To schedule a free presentation for your workplace, click here.

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Silicon Valley Mental Health Crisis Team at Risk of Losing Funding

By Moryt Milo

People are seeking out Santa Clara County’s non-police mental health crisis team more than any other response program. But it’s about to run out of money.

County leaders are looking for ways to keep the Trusted Response Urgent Support Team (TRUST) program alive after state funding—which gave the program four years to evolve since launching in 2022—expires in November. One option is to boost billing for the program’s services under Medi-Cal. But Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to make mobile crisis services an optional benefit under Medi-Cal, which could slash reimbursements to cover only 25% of TRUST’s annual budget, compared to 36% today, according to county officials.

County reports going back to 2024 consistently show more calls going to TRUST than the county’s other crisis support programs that involve police to varying degrees. The most recent report published this week shows TRUST received 1,484 calls from January to March, and saw the highest amount of calls resulting in someone’s “stabilization” and being linked to resources—at 94% of all calls over that time period.

Compare that to the county’s Mobile Response Stabilization Services unit, which received 842 calls over the same time period. The county’s Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) received 847 calls and the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT), which has one Crisis Intervention Trained (CIT) police officer and clinician dispatched by 9-1-1, received 122 calls. County funding for the PERT program ended on Dec. 31, but Santa Clara and Palo Alto are funding their own PERT programs.

Click link to read the full story at San José Spotlight.

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Stanford Psychiatrist, Jacob Ballon, Talks About Schizophrenia

April 14 General Meeting Recap

By Moryt Milo

Nothing is more terrifying than watching a family member experience their first psychotic break. Suddenly, parent and adult child are sitting across from a psychiatrist with no clue what comes next.

It begins with everyone getting on the same page, says Dr. Jacob Ballon, a Stanford psychiatrist who specializes in treating individuals with psychotic disorders including schizophrenia. It’s the only way the goals are going to make sense.

The purpose is different for everyone. It might be resolving symptoms, or wanting to go back to school, improving relationships, or just getting through the day. No matter the reason, it starts with a conversation.

“It really requires a good conversation because then we have a North Star to know where we are headed,” says Dr. Ballon, who is also the Associate Chair for Patient Services and Co-Division Chief for General Adult Psychiatry and Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry.

Part of that conversation is about choosing the right medication, which is more art than science when it comes to first psychotic episodes. Unless the individual turns out to be resistant to the antipsychotic, the initial treatment works quickly.

Side effects, however, are an ongoing concern, Ballon says, but when the medication is well tolerated the basis of a plan can endure.

“I am always thinking about the side effects of these medications,” Ballon says. “All medications have side effects and until we try it, we don’t know how it might affect the person.”

To read the full story, go to https://namisantaclara.org/stanford-psychiatrist-jacob-ballon-talks-about-schizophrenia/

To watch the complete presentation, go to www.youtube.com/@NamisantaclaraOrg

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Mental Health 101 for Faith Communities

For many in our community, the journey toward mental wellness is deeply intertwined with their spiritual life. In fact, 67% of adults describe spirituality as a vital part of their identity, and 60% find that their faith is a cornerstone of their mental health support system.

We invite you to join our upcoming in-person luncheon, Mental Health 101 for Faith Communities. This inclusive training is designed for all traditions, rooted in the belief that every house of worship can be a sanctuary of understanding. Together, we will learn how to:

Recognize the early signs of mental health distress
Reduce the weight of stigma through education and empathy
Respond with compassion to those seeking help

By equipping our faith leaders and members with these tools, we aren’t just sharing information; we are building a more compassionate, caring world where no one has to struggle alone.

Register online here

To know about NAMI-SCC FaithNet go to NAMI-SCC FaithNet page.

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NAMI-SCC Family Support Groups

By Jeanette Langdell, Helpline Coordinator

Do you have a loved one diagnosed with a mental health condition? Are you trying to help a family member who doesn’t have access to care or doesn’t want help? Do you want to learn how to support and encourage someone who has been hospitalized or experienced a similar mental health crisis? Please join a Family Support Group to receive support and learn from others on a similar journey. All groups are led by trained NAMI facilitators with their own lived experience as family members. Here’s a summary of available groups:

New! In-person Family Support Group—meets third Wednesday of the month at the NAMI office.
Virtual Family Support Groups—meet every second and fourth Tuesday of the month.
Families of Vision (virtual)—Christian family support group, NAMI FaithNet model; meets every third Sunday of the month.
Transition-Age Family Support Group (virtual)—for families with loved ones with mental health challenges age 14-24; meets every first Wednesday of the month.
Jail Family Support Group (virtual)—for families with a loved one currently or formerly incarcerated; meets every first Wednesday of the month.

For more information on our support groups including how to register for virtual groups, please see our Family Support Groups webpage or call the NAMI-SCC Helpline at 408-453-0400 option 1.

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Provider Education

There will be two Provider Education courses in May. The on on May 15 is a 4-hour virtual seminar. The 5-week course (in-person) will begin May 29. Please see the flyers below for the details. To know more about Provider Course go to https://namisantaclara.org/classes/nami-provider-education/

One-day Provider Seminar Flyer below

Five-day Provider Course Flyer below

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NAMI National Convention (NAMICon) 2026

Get ready to experience an immersive three days of inspiration, collaboration, and transformation.

Join us May 28-30 at NAMICon 2026 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, Georgia. Where awareness meets action. Where education fuels advocacy. Where community strengthens hope.

This year’s theme—Advancing Connection, Community, and Caring—reflects what makes this moment so important.

At a time when so much is impacting mental health, NAMICon 2026 is creating space to come together, learn from one another, and move forward with purpose.

From people with lived experience, caregivers, and providers to young leaders, policymakers, faith leaders, and mental health champions from across the country—NAMICon 2026 will unite us for bold conversations, deep connection, and action that transforms communities.

Main Stage Keynote Speakers

Get to know your NAMICon 2026 speakers. Each one has lived it, studied it, or fought for it. Together, they’re bringing their most powerful stories, breakthroughs, and hard-won wisdom to one place.

Carnie Wilson Conversations with Carnie: Mental Illness and Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) Grammy nominated singer-songwriter, mental health advocate (Carnie is a paid spokesperson for Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. She does not have TD.)

Dr. Alfiee From Surviving to Thriving: Intentional Caring for Youth Mental Health Psychologist, scientist, author, mental health correspondent, founder of the innovative nonprofit The AAKOMA Project and lead of the MATTIE Fund.

Blake Mycoskie We Are Enough: Blake Mycoskie in Conversation with Dan Gillison Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of TOMS.

Joshua Bassett Fireside Chat with Joshua Bassett, Emmy-winning actor, singer-songwriter, and author.

Get Your NAMICon Pass

All passes include:

Access to all content and programming
Welcome and closing receptions
Discounted conference hotel rates
Conference app access

To learn more and to register, go to events.nami.org/namicon2026

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NAMI California Annual Conference 2026

SAVE THE DATE

October 8 and 9, 2026, Anaheim, CA

If you have questions, please contact NAMI CA at conference@namica.org or call 916-567-0163.

NOTE: Super Early Bird Registration is active through May 24, 2026. Click Here.

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NAMI-SCC’s Annual Picnic

You are invited to NAMI-SCC’s Annual Picnic!

DATE: Saturday, June 6, 2026

LOCATION: Emma Prusch Farm Park, 647 S King Rd, San Jose, CA 95116

This year’s picnic will be held in the beautiful Rose Garden and Citrus Grove areas at Emma Prusch Farm Regional Park. This accessible venue is the perfect spot for a fun, relaxed afternoon with our NAMI-SCC community. Nearby (and free) parking makes it even easier to join the festivities! This is a FREE event. RSVP by May 25 to reserve your spot.

Come enjoy:

🌭 A delicious BBQ menu

🎟️ An exciting raffle with fun door prizes

🐮 Plus access to all the amazing park amenities—including gardens, playgrounds, and the animal barn!

This year we have a special guest, Respira, an app that will guide us through some healing, conscious connected breathwork. Be sure to bring your yoga mats and blankets to fully partake in this experience.

Let’s honor our journey, celebrate our impact, and look ahead to the future—together. We can’t wait to see you there for an unforgettable afternoon of food, fun, and friendship!

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