NAMI WESTSIDE LA

CORE CLASSES/SUPPORT GROUPS (FAMILY-TO-FAMILY, PEER-TO-PEER, BASICS) OFFERED 34 FREE FAMILY-TO-FAMILY AND PEER-TO-PEER CLASSES, PROVIDING VITAL SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY. TRAINED 12 NEW TEACHERS TO HELP EXPAND ACCESS TO THESE CRITICAL PROGRAMS. FAMILY-TO-FAMILY: FAMILY-TO-FAMILY IS AN EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF ADULTS LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. IN THIS PROGRAM, THE TERM FAMILY IS VIEWED FROM A BROAD PERSPECTIVE TO INCLUDE PARENTS, SIBLINGS, SPOUSES, ADULT SONS AND DAUGHTERS, PARTNERS AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS. THE 12 CLASSES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP ALL FAMILY MEMBERS UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THEIR LOVED ONE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR OWN WELL-BEING. THE COURSE INCLUDES INFORMATION ON ILLNESSES SUCH AS SCHIZOPHRENIA, BIPOLAR DISORDER, MAJOR DEPRESSION AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES DESCRIBE THE PROGRAM AS LIFE-CHANGING. THE PROGRAM IS TAUGHT BY TRAINED TEACHERS WHO ARE ALSO FAMILY MEMBERS AND KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE A LOVED ONE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. IT ALSO INCLUDES FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS LED BY TRAINED FAMILY MEMBERS. THE PROGRAM IS INCLUDED IN THE U.S. SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION'S (SAMHSA) NATIONAL REGISTRY OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS. PEER-TO-PEER: PEER-TO-PEER IS AN EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR THOSE WITH A BRAIN ILLNESS. PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN TO LIVE WELL WITH WHAT THEY HAVE. IT CONSISTS OF 8 TWO-HOUR CLASSES AND IS TAUGHT BY A TEAM OF 2 TRAINED MENTORS WHO HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AT LIVING WELL WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS. PARTICIPANTS IN THIS CLASS COME AWAY FROM THE COURSE WITH A BINDER OF HAND-OUT MATERIALS AND AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER TANGIBLE RESOURCES. THEY WILL GET A RELAPSE PREVENTION PLAN TO HELP IDENTIFY TELL-TALE FEELINGS, THOUGHTS, BEHAVIORS, OR EVENTS THAT MAY WARN OF IMPENDING RELAPSE. THEY WILL ALSO LEARN TO ORGANIZE FOR INTERVENTION. MINDFULNESS EXERCISES HELP WITH FOCUSING AND CALM THINKING; PARTICIPANTS LEARN SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR WORKING WITH PROVIDERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. CLASSES ARE A COMBINATION OF LECTURE AND INTERACTIVE EXERCISE MATERIAL AND CLOSE WITH MINDFULNESS PRACTICE (TECHNIQUES OFFERED TO DEVELOP AND EXPAND AWARENESS). EACH CLASS BUILDS ON THE ONE BEFORE, THEREFORE ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED EACH WEEK. PEER SUPPORT GROUPS LED BY TRAINED PEERS IS ALSO PROVIDED. BASICS: NAMI BASICS IS TAUGHT BY TWO TRAINED PARENT TEACHERS USING A DETAILED CURRICULUM SIMILAR TO FAMILY-TO-FAMILY BUT SPECIFIC TO THE ONSET OF MENTAL ILLNESS PRIOR TO AGE 18 YEARS. NAMI BASICS IS NOW OFFERED ONLINE.

COLLEGE/SCHOOL PROGRAMS (NAMI ON CAMPUS, ENDING THE SILENCE) REACHED 4,998 STUDENTS THROUGH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE ON MENTAL HEALTH AND REDUCE STIGMA. CONTINUED ADDRESSING THE NATIONAL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WITH PLANS TO EXPAND PROGRAMMING TO YOUNGER CHILDREN THROUGH EARLY INTERVENTION INITIATIVES. NAMI ON CAMPUS: NAMI ON CAMPUS PROVIDES INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND TO EMPOWER THEM TO TAKE ACTION ON THEIR CAMPUSES. ENDING THE SILENCE: ENDING THE SILENCE IS A 50-MINUTE PROGRAM GIVEN TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL PROGRAM IS DEVOTED TO GIVING STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGH AN INFORMATIVE POWERPOINT, SHORT VIDEOS, AND PERSONAL TESTIMONY. THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, STUDENTS LEARN SYMPTOMS AND INDICATORS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND ARE GIVEN IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO HELP THEMSELVES, FRIENDS, OR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO MAY BE IN NEED OF SUPPORT.