Description
NAMI is a Family Organization working together for ourselves, our families, and our community. We are a movement of families, friends and individuals dedicated to improving the quality of life of those affected by a serious neuro-biological brain disorder and to the ultimate eradication of these diseases.
Board Meetings:
Meets 2nd Monday of each month, 5:30 pm, at Sutter Hospital Meeting Room, 2900 Chanticlare, Santa Cruz, CA.
Coping Support Group:
Meets Thursdays: Our ongoing group is for individuals who have a family member suffering from mental illness. This group is support for family members of the mentally ill. It meets at Community Connections, 7-8:30 PM, 300 Harvey West Blvd., Santa Cruz, CA 95061, Phone: 427-8020
Board Of Directors
Carol Williamson, President
Alice Nelli, Secretary
Jim Williamson, Treasurer / Membership
Arnecia James, Legislative Chair
Don Hilbert,
Speakers Bureau
Deborah Smith, Telephone Tree Coordinator
Doug Huskey, Webmaster
Research
Through our affiliation with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD), we stay informed of current advances. We believe that mental illnesses are biologically based, and that research is important to the eventual eradication of these diseases. However, we are also concerned that for want of a true cure, modern psychiatry often teats the symptoms with maintenance as the goal. We believe that every sufferer is unique and that various methods and techniques of recovery can be very effective for many. We urge psychiatry to not rely overly on drugs but look to healing the whole self through nutrition and alternative recovery and rehabilitation methods.
Education
NAMI-SCC's purpose is to educate the public about serious mental illness through our public meetings, publications and this web site. We work to reduce stigma against mental illness, encouraging knowledge, understanding, and tolerance of our experiences. We try to present a balanced view on controversial subjects, often providing multiple viewpoints. We also try to provide links and short descriptions for recent press releases, news and other information on the world wide web relating to mental health issues. The material on this web site is organized both by category and chronologically in monthly archives.
Advocacy
Our members volunteer their time and energy advocating at the local, state, and national level for the interests of people with neurobiological brain disorders, their families and friends.
Donations:
Your donations of household goods are always needed and much appreciated. Independent Housing units for mental health clients have use for your contributions. If you have furniture or other household goods to donate as a tax-deductible contribution, please call Paul O'Brien at 459-0444. Pickup is available.
Address and Phone:
For more information, please call 831-427-8020 or write National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Santa Cruz County, (NAMI-SCC), PO Box 360, Santa Cruz, CA 95061
Membership
January starts the new membership year for all members. Your NAMI-SCC membership dues and donations pay for the NAMI California Statement, NAMI-SCC Advocate and NAMI-SCC News and support NAMI-SCC, NAMI-SCC Coping Support Groups and Mental Health Resource Center (MHRC) services and groups.
2001 NAMI-SCC DUES
Your NAMI-SCC dues and donations pay to support NAMI-SCC and MHRC services and groups. Please enroll me as a member to support NAMI-SCC activities Print the membership form: Membership Form
