Contact Us

info@namisantaclara.org

Office Hours: Mon - Fri 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

New Address:

2010 N First St
Suite 530
San Jose, CA 95131

Ph. (408) 453-0400
Fax (408) 453-2100

 

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 14th, 2010 at Good Samaritan Hospital Auditorium.

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NAMI Celebrates Opening of its Community Resource and Support Center

On Nov. 5, 2009, NAMI SCC hosted a well-attended Open House to celebrate the opening of our Community Resource and Support Center at 2010 N. First Street, Suite 530, San Jose.

The Center is committed to providing resources, referrals, support, and education to people with mental illness, their families and friends, as well as to mental health professionals. The Center operates a 24-hour warm line to assist families and individuals in crisis. It provides library resources and an information kiosk on all aspects of mental illness in English, Spanish, and Mandarin. It holds and sponsors free support groups at the Center and throughout Santa Clara County for families and mental health clients in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

The Center also provides extensive education programs for families, mental health clients, mental health providers, and teachers. These courses are available free to the participants on an ongoing basis.

The Center is open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 2 pm. Drop-ins are welcome, and trained volunteers are available to answer questions and assist in locating information. There is no income restriction, and the Center serves individuals from all walks of life. For further information contact the Center at 408 453-0400 or info@namisantaclara.org

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Weight Problem? Buy Minute Method and Help NAMI

Minute Method is an iPhone app available on iTunes. The application is priced at .99 cents. All proceeds earned from downloads from iTunes will be divided 50/50 with NAMI SCC until April 1st, 2010. We are doing this to get the word out about Minute Method and to support NAMI. You can also visit www.minutemethod.com.

Minute Method iPhone app is based on an eating method invented a few years ago which enables one to slow down eating. Minute Method is the first "automated system" to help break the cycle of eating too quickly and thus, overeating. Minute Method is the simplest way to slow down eating and help you eat less. On your iPhone, Minute Method is always with you, therefore, you can have high-tech help when you need it.

Minute Method is implemented on the iPhone using a unique timer that divides your meal into cycles. Use Minute Method the way YOU want: watch the built-in color timer, set it to play a sound, or use vibrate mode. Whatever way you choose, you can confidently go out and enjoy meals without getting carried away and eating too much!* Please note, if you are eating substantially less food, you may need a snack to keep your energy up. That's fine, just remember to use Minute Method for those snack bites too!

Are there better alternatives to Minute Method? It's possible, but so far, the majority involve lifestyle changes including a lot of planning ahead, measuring, counting or buying special foods only found on the program. Minute Method is a totally different approach to eating and losing weight. Minute method doesn't have you count calories, watch what, when and where you eat. This method uses a unique, phase timer which automates and slows your eating cycle. Instead of struggling with the complexities and lifestyle changes of other diets, you simply set the timer and apply the eating method. Minute Method is a Slow-Down-Your-Intake method. It's that simple. Eat what you like, when you like.

Minute Method is the perfect tool for helping you to slow down the process of food intake, and to help get you on track to losing weight. Also, when you eat slower, you tend to enjoy your food more—and crave better foods! Of course, no plan is foolproof or guaranteed, and Minute Method requires you to use the method consistently to obtain results*. But as you will see, Minute Method is easy to use and follow, and could help get you on the road to a more healthy lifestyle.

To manually purchase and download Minute Method, open iTunes (you must install on Mac or Windows if you don't have it) on Mac or PC, choose iTunes Store, and do a search on Minute Method or click here.

*Results may vary. Minute Method, Silicon Valley Software, LLC and all agents/representatives make no guarantees, legal or otherwise, to the effectiveness of this eating plan/method. The statements above are not intended to be medical advice. Please consult your doctor before starting any eating method or diet plan.

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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.
(Note: Our public defender is now Gilda Valeros (408) 299-7918 email: GValeros@pdo.sscgov.org though often it is more efficient to contact her paralegal, Mary Davis-Lauth, 408 299 7790, mdavis@pdo.sccgov.org)

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Grading The States

NAMI national has released a new report, Grading the States 2009, assessing the nation's public mental health care system for adults and finding that the national average grade is a D.

Fourteen states improved their grades since NAMI's last report card three years ago. Twelve states fell backwards. Read all about it.

NEWS And Views

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.

Breaking the Cycles

Breaking the Cycles is Lisa Frederiksen's blog, our October Meeting speaker. It specializes in research and information on alcohol related issues, including the latest brain research, underage drinking, alcohol abuse, alcoholism, dual diagnosis, codependency issues, co-addictions and more.

Why Smoking Relieves Schizophrenia Symptoms

A recent NARSAD study suggests a reason for the much greater incidence of smoking among those with schizophrenia compared to the general public. It involves the ameliorating effect of nicotine on a substance found to impair memory function that is present in higher levels among those with schizophrenia.

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.

Dental Health and Mental Health

A recent NAMI Advocate magazine article contained an article by Lisa Stillman Knapp, a dental hygienist and recipient of the 2008 Sunstar/Butler/Penwell Award of Distinction for Integrative Healing. She discusses some of the reasons why many people with mental illness develop bad teeth. My son is no exception and I wrote to her with some specific questions regarding his situation. Here is a paper I received from her which lists some of the actions you can take to maintain good dental health while taking medications for mental health.

Two New Groups
Artists' Hour and Consumer Support Group

NAMI Santa Clara County is proud to host two new support groups. Artists' Hour which meets the 4th Sunday of each month and the NAMI Connection Support Group which, starting in January 2008, will meet every Sunday. Both meetings are at the NAMI SCC office. For information about other support groups please check our newsletter. Up-to-date support group information can be found in the most recent newsletter.

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. To read the summary and the blank forms, click here.

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.

Peer-toPeer Outreach Video Online

The outreach video for the Peer-to-Peer Education Recovery Course is now available online. View it here.

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.