October 2026
- Behavioral Health Board Has Openings
- NAMI-SCC Outreach Within the Community
- Staff Spotlight: Sharon Navarro Garcia
- Are You Passionate About Mental Health, Recovery, and Community Building?
- NAMI-SCC Membership Form
- Resource Guide
- We are looking for Family Support Group Facilitators
- Participate in ongoing research studies
NAMIWalks Silicon Valley 2026 Recap
On Saturday, October 3, hundreds of smiling participants and volunteers lit up History Park, San Jose, like bright green and orange confetti. NAMIWalks Silicon Valley was a place where no one had to walk alone. Together, we built momentum for our community and took another meaningful step toward Mental Health for All.
Before participants made their way around the walk route, NAMIWalks Silicon Valley Manager Jen Larson led an opening ceremony with NAMI-SCC Executive Director Rovina Nimbalkar. To invite welcoming energy, Sonali Bhat of Earth and Ether led an empowering Somatic Warm Up. Rabbi Hugh Seid-Valencia then led a gentle prayer to honor those who’ve passed due to mental health and GoDoves followed the prayer with a Dove Release. Afterwards, NAMI-SCC Board President Uday Kapoor introduced Honorary Chair, Dr. Farouk Dey, and Keynote Speaker, Supervisor Otto Lee. Presenting Sponsor KCBS was also highlighted during the Ceremony, with some words of compassion from their representative Lauren Shannon. Top Teams, Walk Stars, Walk Captains, Volunteers and more were also celebrated during the Opening Ceremony.
Participants circled the walk routes with inspirational signs, pom poms, and furry friends sporting boots on their paws. They returned from the walk to live music from “The New Hope Band” of Hope Services and free food and drinks from Lighthouse Food Rescue & Distribution. 
For the remainder of the event, participants visited Resource Booths filled with swag and supplies from Sponsors. Some of the most popular booths include the TRUST van, TrioSpa massage chair, “Love and Second Chances” adoptable dogs Booth, Messages of Hope, and Teen Zone, which had free Kare Kits for youth. Nearby, Tina Troung of Tru Holistic Healing held a beautiful sound bath experience for participants underneath a canopy of tree shade.
The movement only continues. Fundraising for NAMIWalks is open until December 3, and we are still a long way from accomplishing our fundraising goal. We ask for your support as we hope to keep mental health services free and accessible to all.
Thank you for walking beside us, for bringing your heart, and for believing in a future where support and hope are available to everyone.
Together, this was our moment.
Together, this is our momentum.
Together, we are NAMIWalks.
With gratitude,
The NAMIWalks Silicon Valley Team
See you all next Year 2027!
Mental Illness Awareness Week
Turning Science into Hope
Since 1990, thanks to NAMI’s advocacy with Congress, Mental Illness Awareness Week has been observed during the first full week of October.
Join NAMI from October 4–10 to celebrate how science, shaped by lived experiences, transforms into hope.
There is power in sharing our stories. When we break the silence around mental health, our experiences shape conversations and innovations in treatment. Your voice is needed as the science behind mental health conditions continues to grow. At NAMI, lived experiences are centered, driving the evolution of mental health support.
Throughout Mental Illness Awareness Week, join NAMI’s conversation on social media as we share the ways that we merge science and lived experience to build hope. Follow along as we explore stories of hope, innovations in treatment, engagement with diverse communities, resources for young people, science at NAMI, and more.
The theme for World Mental Health Day is “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change,” set by the World Federation for Mental Health.
Key October Mental Health Dates
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- Mental Illness Awareness Week: The first full week of October (October 4–10, 2026) focuses on educating the public and reducing stigma.
- World Mental Health Day: Celebrated globally every year on October 10. Centers on recognizing people with lived experience as a vital form of expertise to shape policies and services.
- OCD Awareness Week: Usually takes place during the second week of October (October 11–17, 2026)
- Related October Observances: Includes Depression Awareness Month and ADHD Awareness Month.
Wear green on mental health awareness days, as it is the international color symbolizing hope, renewal, and growth.
Robert Villanueva Talks About Beyond Stigma
September 8 General Meeting Recap
By Moryt Milo
Getting beyond the stigma of mental illness for those living with a diagnosis starts from within says Robert Villanueva — and for Villanueva that self-stigma ran deep.
He never saw himself as anything more than a blue-collar “garbage man” out of high school. He had no formal education. And even though he was a wrestling coach for 13 years, it all came crashing down when he became symptomatic and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
“I had to figure myself out,” he said.
At the time, he had little self-worth and felt people were looking down on him. He needed help to break through the self-stigma barrier. Villanueva had good psychiatric care, but he needed to understand what was happening and to accept that he had a mental illness.
“Once you get past stigma, it’s like your superpower,” he said.
What helped was telling his story to others, especially to the blue-collar community. As he shared his experience and helped others with mental illness break through their self-stigma, he started to accept and recover.
“I consider a mental illness a blue-collar weakness, because of my background as a garbage man and driving trucks,” he said at NAMI-Santa Clara County’s General Meeting on September 8. “I want to reach out to the blue-collar community. Get in there and really open up the dialogue and let them know. I don’t want to classify or stigmatize certain groups. But I do think there is a lack of focus on the blue-collar communities.”
To read the complete article, click here.
NAMI-SCC Education Classes
Please contact the NAMI-SCC Helpline if you are interested in any of our classes, and you will be put on the interest list. Call 408-453-0400 option 1. All classes are free to participants.
To learn about all our education programs, go to www.namisantaclara.org/classes/classes-2
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:
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- In-person Family Support Group — meets second Wednesday of the month at the NAMI office.
- Virtual Family Support Groups — meets every 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, www.namisantaclara.org/classes/nami-family-support-group, or call the NAMI-SCC Helpline at 408-453-0400 option 1.
NAMI-SCC Outreach Within the Community
Connecting, Educating, and Breaking Down Stigma—One Community at a Time!
By Barb St. Clair, Outreach Programs Coordinator
NAMI-Santa Clara County’s Outreach Team has been out and about across the county, bringing mental health education, resources, and support to diverse communities.
San Jose Job Corps Center
Our team was warmly welcomed by students and staff at the San Jose Job Corps Center. Students were engaged and eager to learn about mental health, signs that someone may be struggling, and resources available to help.
Cupertino Rotary Fall Fest 2026
Our outreach booth at Cupertino Rotary’s Fall Fest provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with local families and share information about NAMI-SCC’s free programs and support services.
Tiny Home Communities
In partnership with HomeFirst, NAMI-SCC regularly visits Tiny Home Communities throughout Santa Clara County. Through workshops and resource sharing, we help residents learn about mental health and explore wellness strategies. These communities provide a stable bridge from homelessness toward permanent housing, and we are proud to bring mental health support along the way.
KATALK at KACS
NAMI-SCC presented a KATALK seminar for Korean American seniors at Korean American Community Services. The conversation focused on mental health and stigma, encouraging seniors to ask questions and learn about resources available to the Korean community.
Breaking Stigma: Veterans Services
NAMI-SCC joined Santa Clara County Veterans Services for its Breaking Stigma event, creating an open space to talk about mental health, treatment options, and available services. The event connected mental health education and stigma reduction with direct access to resources.
Ending the Silence in Santa Clara County Schools
Through the NAMI Ending the Silence program, NAMI-SCC brings mental health education and personal stories directly into local schools. Students have shared that stigma can make it difficult to know whom they can trust or talk to about their mental health. By creating space for honest discussion, we help students recognize the importance of connection, support, and reaching out.
Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
We connected with individuals served by the Vista Center, sharing information about mental health and the emotional challenges that can sometimes accompany vision loss and other physical health concerns.
San Jose Woman’s Club
NAMI-SCC joined other community organizations at the San Jose Woman’s Club Harvest of Hope Wellness Fair. This initiative brought critical resources together under one roof to support vulnerable women in our community.
NAMI-SCC Mental Health Outreach at the Mexican Consulate
NAMI-SCC’s Spanish-language outreach helps make mental health information and resources more accessible to the Latino community. Through tabling events at the Mexican Consulate, we connect with community members, share resources, and create opportunities to talk openly about mental health and stigma.
Los Altos Rotary
NAMI-SCC was pleased to speak with Los Altos Rotary members about our mission, local mental health statistics, signs that someone may be struggling, stigma, communication strategies, and available resources. The presentation sparked thoughtful questions and meaningful conversation.
Together, We’re Making a Difference!
From young adults and veterans to seniors, families, and individuals transitioning from homelessness, NAMI-SCC continues to bring mental health education and support directly into the community. Every conversation helps break down stigma, build connections, and remind people that help is available.
Staff Spotlight: Sharon Navarro Garcia
Sharon Navarro Garcia is the Corporate Outreach Administrator at NAMI-Santa Clara County, where she focuses on building relationships with local businesses and organizations to expand mental health awareness in the workplace and throughout the community. In her role, she helps connect companies with NAMI-SCC presentations, resources, community events, and opportunities to get involved with initiatives, such as NAMIWalks Silicon Valley.
Sharon brings a background in digital marketing, communications, and customer experience. Prior to joining NAMI-SCC, she worked for more than six years at Azazie, where she most recently served as Senior Digital Marketing Coordinator. Her experience in marketing and communications has helped shape her interest in building meaningful connections between organizations and the communities they serve.
Sharon earned her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management from San Jose State University and is currently pursuing her MBA at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business, with a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation. As a first-generation graduate student, education and creating opportunities for connection have become important parts of her personal and professional journey.
Outside of work and school, Sharon enjoys spending time with her family and her French bulldog, Floyd. She also enjoys staying active, traveling, and finding new ways to connect with her community. Whether through work, school, or her personal life, Sharon values bringing people together and supporting causes that make a positive impact.
Are You Passionate About Mental Health, Recovery, and Community Building?
We are Hiring! Join Our Team!
Join the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Santa Clara County and help create a safe, welcoming space where people living with mental health conditions can connect, learn, and recover together.
We’re currently looking for suitable candidates to help ensure these vital programs remain available to our community. If you’re compassionate, dependable, and believe in the power of hope, we’d love to hear from you.
To learn more, go to Jobs
Join NAMI-Santa Clara County and be part of a mission that changes lives!
Membership Form
To join online, go to www.namisantaclara.org/Become a Member
To make payment via check:
Please address the check to “NAMI Santa Clara County“ and send it by mail to:
1150 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 24
San Jose, CA 95128
NAMI-SCC welcomes your membership.
Memberships are valid for one year.
Your membership and donations are tax deductible.
Tax ID #94-2430956
Learn how to include NAMI-SCC in your estate plan by going to “Get Involved/Planned Giving” on our website.
We are looking for Family support group facilitators
We’re looking for individuals to serve as facilitators for our Family Support Groups both in-person & online.
If you’ve completed one of our family education programs and are interested in giving back by supporting others, we’d love to hear from you!
If you are interested or would like to learn more, please contact our
Education Manager:
Adela Arce
Email: aarce@namisantaclara.org
3.Community Participation Study
4. Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Social Anxiety
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