NAMI Marin Newsletter June 2010

National Alliance on Mental Illness
555 Northgate Drive, #280
San Rafael, CA 94903
Marin’s Voice
On Mental Illness and Recovery
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 1-3 pm
415-444-0480, nami@namimarin.org, www.namimarin.org
Access and Barriers to Mental Health Treatment
By Beverlee Kell
At the May General Meeting, Adam Nelson, MD, a psychiatrist practicing in
Marin, Associate Medical Director of Outpatient Behavior Health Services at Marin
General Hospital and incoming President of the Northern California Psychiatric
Society, facilitated a discussion on ways to overcome the barriers that prevent our
loved one‟s from accessing mental health care. The sharing was valuable and the
discussion will continue at our June General Meeting!
Dr. Nelson reassured the audience that the discussion would be inclusive for
both families and clients and reminded us that family members can be clients and
that clients do also serve in the role of a family member/friend. He asked the
audience to think of barriers that occur at every level: individual, family, the mental
health care system, and the broader community.
June 2010
Vol. XXXVI No. 8
Calendar:
NAMI Board Meeting June 7 and August 30,
6:30pm, call office for location.
FamFest See page 4 for summer schedule.
NAMI Family Support Group Tuesdays,
June 8, 7-8:30 pm; June 22, 4-5:30 pm and
7-8:30 pm, ERC Center,
with Kay Browne, MD, free, drop-in.
NAMI Espanol Family Support Group,
Thursdays, June 3 and June 17, 7-8:30pm,
ERC Center, Elena Lopez (415) 879-2599.
Meeting conducted in Spanish. Free.
NAMI General Meeting June 28. See page 8.
The Power of Landscape, June 19, 2-4 pm,
Dr. Nelson explained that family members are not dealing just with an illness but deYoung Museum, see page 4.
also with a person. Any serious, chronic illness also has a deleterious psychological Marin Mind/Scapes, July 2-4, 12-6pm,
L‟Escalle Inn, in conjunction with
effect on personality and tends to bring out less mature ways of coping.
Buckelew Marin/Scapes Art Show and Sale.
Family members fear that their loved one will be incarcerated or imprisoned
Artful Recovery, Art Exhibition of ERC
rather than treated for mental illness. Even when care is accessible, the ill person
Saturday Art Group, July 8-August 12,
may lack insight and refuse treatment. Do they feel they are fine? Some strategies to
Mon-Sat 10-6, Sat 11-4. See page 5.
encourage treatment were discussed, such as using a sibling or friend rather than an
Family-to-Family 12 week education class.
authority figure/parent to engage a person in treatment. Finding out what the ill
Sign up for next session starting in September.
person values most and using that to frame plans can improve cooperation and
Call NAMI Marin office 415-444-0480.
motivation.
Techniques for slowly building trust and improving rapport included the need to
convey a real sense of interest, use of “tell me more” without overdoing or sounding
contrived, and the need to be sincere and not misrepresent oneself. If a person is
extremely angry, the family member should remain calm, speak in a calm voice and
reassure the person that they want to know what is wrong. When confronted in a
loud and hostile tone, it is okay to tell the person that your ears hurt and ask that
they stop yelling. Validating the person‟s distress is essential and giving
reassurance such as “I believe that this causes you a lot of distress” or “I believe
you are really upset” are validating. Stating clearly what you need as a friend/
family member will help with limit setting.
Special Features
Dr. Nelson, and Dr. Ed Oklan at our March meeting, emphasized the need for
paranoid clients to feel safe before they can accept care and that may require that
they be seen where they do feel safe, such in their home or their car. It may require
that the psychiatrist make some form of “house call” initially.
President‟s Letter
2
NAMI Walk 2010
2
Mental Health Reform
3
Some members expressed frustration with the lack of coordination and lack of
transparency by our county mental health services. Others complained about trying
to use private insurances which commonly provide outdated or false psychiatric
providers lists (“ghost panels”). Dr. Nelson reminded us that private insurers are
required to provide needed care and can arrange a “single case agreement” with a
Laura‟s Law in San Francisco
3
Book Review
4
FamFest Summer Schedule
4
Peer Perspective
5
(Continued on page 4)
Community Resources
6-7
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NAMI Marin call 415-444-0480 nami@namimarin.org
June 2010
NAMI Walk 2010
President’s Letter
By Kay Blackwill
As we come up to the summer break, it seems
a good time to recognize our dedicated
volunteers. Thank you Rik and Peg Super for a
fabulous and successful Walk. Much appreciated
are your warm and friendly breakfast meetings which do so much
to bring us all together. Thanks also, of course, to everyone who
supported us, and walked with us. Donations are still coming in,
so it's not too late if you want to make a contribution.
Thank you to all our office Help Line volunteers. You are the
voice of our organization, often a first contact for families, and a
vital link to the services that we offer and county resources.
Thank you to Kay Browne, MD, Nellrose Graham, Elena and
Rose Sanchez, and Carla Mock for doing a great job in facilitating
our Family Support Groups. All of our facilitators bring a great
deal of insight, experience and knowledge of local resources to
these groups. See our Resource page for times and location.
Participants were full of praise for Chaja Kirsh and Ellie
Boldrick for their empathy, dedication and knowledge in teaching
a very successful 12 week Family-to-Family education course this
spring. Better communication and understanding, limit setting and
the recognition that everyone in the family has needs, help
families stay healthy when things get tough. Thank you, Chaja
and Ellie for a job well done. The next class starts in September.
Please call the office for details.
Warmest thanks go to Beverlee Kell for bringing expert
speakers to our community through our General Meetings.
Beverlee's commitment to ever improve our system of care here in
Marin, her deep knowledge of mental health issues, and her
personal connections in the field, are what it takes to make these
meetings happen. Thanks also to Sue Roberts for the delicious
refreshments she has brought to each meeting for the last 18
months. Eating together is part of being a family. That
responsibility is now being passed on to our newest volunteer,
Elizabeth Ferris, who will be bringing the refreshments from this
month. Thank you, Elizabeth.
Finally, I would like to thank
Penny Labourdette for editing this
beautiful newsletter; Karen and
David Illich for circulation; Sue
Roberts for developing our extensive
database, and for organizing tables at
the Farmers' markets. Also a special
Sue, David, Karen
thank you to Barbara Alexander and
the core advocacy committee (Jim
Finn, Cynthia Jackson, Penny Labourdette) for their continued
efforts for the implementation of Laura‟s Law in Marin County.
Thank you all, named and unnamed, for the work that you do!
We are always ready to welcome new volunteers! Just a call to
the office will get you connected. Peg Super loves getting to know
all of her volunteers and is ever mindful of their needs. Regular
trainings are provided throughout the year. Not every day is a
good day and when a volunteer needs to change a date, Peg's first
question is what do you need, how can we help you? Volunteering
makes you a valuable part of our NAMI family, and gives you the
opportunity to support others and be supported in turn. Call now!
Have a great summer!
By Penny Labourdette
On May 22, 2010 seventy-two NAMI Marin members and
friends boarded two yellow school buses to participate in the annual
NAMI Walk, and to meet
up with those who traveled in by car. It was a
glorious clear day, a perfect day for the walk and
a perfect time to share our
stories with one another.
The day was festive with yellow and
blue balloons flying and music playing at
Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park.
Laurie Williams, the Walk Director welcomed the enthusiastic group and introduced Joyce Cooling, a local jazz guitarist, who shared a very touching story
of her experiences growing up with a
brother with mental illness. Next was a
big surprise for all.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newson
walked on stage carrying his beautiful
little baby daughter in a papoose. She
was a perfect baby in training for her
proud father to show off.
Release of dove in memory of Marika Ann
Critelli who walked last year and raised
$1000. Generous donations to her memorial
fund finances NAMIMarin Espanol Program
Over 2,500 people were
in attendance. To date
$319,000 has been raised
short of the $350,000 goal.
To help us reach our
goal, donation checks
to NAMI Walk San
Francisco Bay Area;
2010 N. First St.,
#535; San Jose, CA
95131 will be accepted until July 2.
Please include NAMI
Marin and name of
Walker. Thanks!
www.namimarin.org
Next was the
traditional ceremony
of releasing the
doves in memory of
the lives lost to
mental illness in the
past year. As our
tears dried we could
hear the bagpipers
playing as they lead
the walk.
Changing Minds
One Step at a Time
Page 3
NAMI Marin call 415-444-0480 nami@namimarin.org
New Healthcare Reform Law
What Does It Mean for You?
June 2010
Laura’s Law in San Francisco
Andrew Sperling, J.D., NAMI Director of Legislative Affairs
reports that the new health care reform law creates enormous
opportunities to expand access to insurance coverage and treatment for children and adults living with mental illness. In reality the new law is a series of policies designed to:
 Expand insurance coverage for the uninsured and underinsured;
 Extend coverage for Medicaid up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level ($14,404 for individuals and $29,327 for
families);
 Create a new federal requirement for most individuals and
families to have insurance coverage-with subsidies for
households up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level
($43,420 for an individual and $88,200 for a family of four);
 Establish new state-based health insurance “exchanges”-new
marketplaces offering affordable coverage options;
 Enact insurance-market reforms including a ban on preexisting-condition exclusions, new prohibitions for annual
and lifetime limits and guaranteed renewability of policies;
 Improve the Medicare Part D program—eventually closing
the “doughnut hole "coverage gap;
 Improve quality through investments in “comparative effectiveness” research, and
 Promote prevention and early intervention.
People who live with mental illness are more likely to be uninsured and experience bad health outcomes as a result of lack of
access to basic primary care services, so many of these people
can certainly benefit from the successful implementation of each
of these reforms. Not surprisingly people living with mental illness also experience significantly higher rates of medical comorbidities such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and asthma.
In addition to expanding coverage to insurance and primarycare treatment, the new law also has a range of specific provisions designed to improve coverage of mental illness treatment in
both private health plans and publicly funded coverage. A few of
the highlights include:
1. Requirements for all of the new coverage options offered
through state-based health insurance “exchanges” to both
include mental health in the basic benefits package and ensures that there are not limitations on coverage for mental
illness that do not also apply to medical-surgical coverage.
2. A Medicaid demonstration program to expand coverage for
acute inpatient care in private psychiatric hospitals;
3. Establishment of new Centers of Excellence for treatment
resistant depression.
4. Improvements to care coordination for mental illness treatment, including co-location of primary care in specialty mental health settings and a new state option to more effectively
target people who live with a serious mental illness and at
least one other chronic medical condition, and more effective
care coordination of individuals dually eligible for both
Medicare and Medicaid;
5. A federal initiative to address post-partum depression
through education, research and training; and
6. New federal quality reporting requirements for psychiatric
hospitals and new federal standards for Community Mental
Health Clinics.
NAMI Advocate
Laura’s Law provides court-ordered, intensive treatment in
the community providing consistent supervision for those
individuals with a serious mental illness and for whom other
community services are not working.
By Penny Labourdette
On May 23, 2010 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier sponsored a hearing before the City Operations and Neighborhood
Services Committee to consider the implementation of Laura‟s
Law (LL), California's Law for Assisted Outpatient Treatment
(AOT) in San Francisco. I am happy to announce there was
unanimous approval. The next step is to take it to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for approval.
Supervisor Alioto-Pier clearly understood the merits of implementing LL and stressed the importance of getting people with a
serious mental illness into treatment before they are a danger to
themselves or others. She stated it was more cost efficient and
humane to treat people at risk before they become homeless or in
jail. She gave statistics of how AOT has saved money and lives
in New York (Kendra‟s Law). Persuasive testimony was given
by Carla Jacobs who gave an overview. Dr. Cam Quanbeck explained how damaging each mental break is to the brain and that
AOT changes a reactive system into a preventative system. Other
distinguished healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and
family members also shared their expertise supporting LL.
Mitch Katz, Director, Department of Public Health, did not
favor LL because it does not mandate drug treatment — there
still has to be a special court order for forcible medication. He
favored 5150 and conservatorship. According to other speakers,
just getting the person with a serious mental illness into the system and having them meet with treatment providers often results
in in a voluntary agreement to take proper medication.
Judge Tom Anderson , Presiding Judge of Nevada County,
where Laura‟s Law has been fully implemented, reported that
his experience in implementing Laura‟s Law has been completely
positive and easy to implement. He said, “The benefits are huge
to consumers and the community. The cost is small and the savings are immense. LL gives a voice to family members and
friends that didn‟t exist before. It provides accountability to the
consumer and provider. LL saves human suffering and gets
treatment to consumers BEFORE they have a serious break when
the damage is immense for them and the community.”
Since 2008 when Laura‟s Law was implemented in Nevada
County there have been 22 referrals: six petitioned the court and
only one contested; two they didn‟t get to fast enough (they were
5150d or jailed). The remainder accepted treatment voluntarily
and are doing well. The services required to provide treatment
were already in place in the mental health community. There
hasn‟t been a problem receiving Mental Health Services money
because once a person agrees to the treatment plan, they become
better, and treatment is voluntary. The courts are not burdened
by the implementation of LL. Judge Anderson said, ―There is
no good reason NOT to implement Laura’s Law.‖
To hear the entire proceedings and testimonials visit:
http://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?
view_id=8&clip_id=10075&meta_id=196470
Now is the time to tell your district supervisor it is time to
implement Laura’s Law in Marin County!!!
For more information about Laura‟s Law visit:
info@treatmentadvocacycenter.org www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org
www.namimarin.org
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NAMI Marin call 415-444-0480 nami@namimarin.org
June 2010
Book Review: Nothing Was the Same, FamFest Family Gathering Schedule
by Kay Redfield Jamison. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2009.
Available at NAMImarin library.
Reviewed by Jill Owen.
Kay Redfield Jamison is Professor of Psychiatry at the Johns
Hopkins University School of Medicine and codirector of the
Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center. Her other books include
An Unquiet Mind, Night Falls Fast, Touched With Fire, and
Exuberance. She herself is a victim of manic-depressive illness.
Nothing Was the Same is a memoir of her husband, Richard
Wyatt, M.D., who was Chief of Neuropsychiatry at the National
Institute of Mental Health, and author of 6 books and 800
scientific papers that have contributed much to the understanding
of schizophrenia and other diseases of the brain. He died of
cancer in 2002. This book tells the story of their life together,
their work, and how she has recovered from her grief at his
death.
Jamison frequently mentions the fact that she was difficult to
live with. Richard, in addition to his all-important gift of love
and companionship, had to make sure she took her medication
and got enough sleep. Their roles were somewhat reversed in
the years of his illness, when she had to take care of him. Their
personalities were different—she was outgoing, generous, even
extravagant, while he was quiet, conservative. They shared a
sense of humor. Also, both had disabilities (he had dyslexia,
which required him to read everything at least three times and to
have his patients check his prescription orders for accuracy).
Both had acquired strength through overcoming these
challenges. With his unique way of attacking a scientific
problem, something Jamison refers to as “spiral,” rather than
linear thinking, he took her illness on as a problem to be studied
from all angles. Both were passionately dedicated to helping
those who suffer from severe mental illness. It was largely due
to Richard‟s encouragement that Jamison decided to tell the true
story of her own illness in her book, An Unquiet Mind. Richard
gave emotional support when she was criticized by some, after
the book‟s publication.
Clients, family, friends, and support staff, all welcome!
No Host . We will order from a limited menu. We have reserved
tables together. You do not have to call ahead. Walk-ins are
welcome. For those who have difficulty paying the usual $10,
NAMI offers partial assistance. Call Kay 472-1388 for more info.
Wednesday, July 7, 5:30 pm
Bangkok Express
857 Fourth Street
San Rafael
Wednesday, August 4, 5:30 pm
Celia‟s Mexican Restaurant
1 Vivian Way
San Rafael
September - No Dinner.
Summer Picnic
Note: Change of Location!
August 21
Civic Center Lagoon Picnic Site
2 to 5 pm
Everyone Welcome!
Add to the fun and festivities
with a side dish, a game to play
with others, or your guitar.
The Power of Landscape
to Heal and Inspire
June 19, 2010, 2pm - 4pm
de Young Museum
Piazzoni Murals Room (free zone of the museum)
Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive,
San Francisco
Marin Mind /Scapes
Marin Mind/Scapes, a 30-minute documentary film by
Marilyn L. Geary and Laurie Thompson exploring the influence
of art and nature on the lives, artistic expression, and mental
well-being of 11 Marin County professional and amateur artists,
some of whom are recovering from a severe mental illness.
The professional and amateur featured artists include Iris
Cutler, Charm Dupree, Steve Emery, Byron Griffin, Homa
Karimzad, Tom Killion, Kathleen Lipinski, Sherrill Miller,
Zenaida “Zee Zee” Mott, J. Thomas Soltesz, and Matt Tasley.
How Landscape Heals
Dr. Michael Freeman, a psychiatrist, psychologist, and
consultant who serves on the faculty of the Department of
Psychiatry at the U.C. San Francisco School of Medicine will
give a presentation entitled “How Landscape Heals,” and
moderate a Q&A session with several of the featured artists.
NAMI Marin is a co-sponsor of this event.
Having a particular interest in helping young people with
depression who are especially isolated and unable to find help or
support, Jamison has been able to visit many college campuses
giving talks about her experiences with mania, severe depression
and suicidal despair. College students, high school students,
even younger children who suffer from similar problems have
been able to talk to her about their fears, and when they ask if
there is really any hope for them, she is able to say from
experience that there is hope.
(Continued from page 1)
She and Richard also shared a love of flowers. At the end of
the book is a description of “Bloom,” an exhibit which Jamison
saw a year after Richard‟s death, at Harvard‟s Massachusetts
Mental Health Center, where he had done his residency. The
artist Anna Schuleit, having noticed that few flowers are sent to
patients in psychiatric wards, had filled all 4 floors of the
hospital with 28,000 potted flowers, including African violets,
blue pansies, ferns and heathers, and 15,000 orange tulips in the
halls, offices, and patients‟ rooms. Jamison donated photographs
of this exhibit to the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Richard‟s name.
psychiatrist outside the plan, when in-plan psychiatrists are not
available or not suitable. This is an arrangement between the
insurance company and a psychiatrist and can be a means of
seeing the psychiatrist of your choice. The client or the insurer
has to find a psychiatrist who is willing to arrange a single case
agreement. Typically, the client is charged only their usual copays. At this time, Medicare and Medi-Cal do not enter into
single case agreements. Kaiser does only when a required service
is not available through Kaiser.
This is a Marin Mind/Scapes Project, Marilyn Geary, Project Manager.
www.namimarin.org
Page 5
NAMI Marin call 415-444-0480 nami@namimarin.org
Peer Perspective: Live Alone ?
By Ann W. Sutter
Everyone has six soul-mates. If one relationship ends, there is
definitely someone else out there. Go to the library-a good
meeting place-and use a computer (the librarian will show you
how), or get free internet access at a café, also a good place to
socialize. Drink several cups of decaf green tea (excellent for
health) with or without lemon juice and sweetener, while you
bide your time. Get tips on improving yourself in “Men‟s
Health” or “Health” magazine (not just about physical fitness).
You‟ll learn something, as you kill time, about yourself and
others you may want to bond with.
Go to garage sales, or lectures by interesting speakers at a
college, local museum or art gallery. Shop at thrift stores; attend
different churches; walk, hike, or bike your neighborhood.
Nibble at different eateries. Get to know who serves you in
restaurants and stores where you shop. Always say, “Hi!” and
smile—it may start a conversation. Take a class in something
you enjoy. Volunteer to do something „easy‟ somewhere, like
Goodwill, the Red Cross, the library—anywhere with a good
purpose. You will feel satisfied at the end of the day and may
make friends who are understanding. Visit a convalescent
hospital and make a grandparent! Listen and ask questions.
Write letters, cards, and notes to anyone. Someone would love
the attention, like an elderly person. Join a charity and sign their
petitions that come in the mail-for medical reasons, refugees, the
environment and animals. Give part of your earnings, monthly,
to charities-you‟ll help the world and be important. Maybe
volunteer to make phone calls in a room with other volunteers.
While working for the same cause, you‟ll meet people you like.
Believe that you CAN make a difference and be useful.
―Don’t give up even if you have some setbacks.
Only a coward and a fool gives up.
Age gracefully. Something or someone is good
around the corner!
Make someone’s day! You may make your
own.‖
a mom or dad. Too fat? Date another fat person and diet/exercise
together. Want to be romantic? Buy poetry books and quote or
create your own. Anyone can create a silly or easy poem, it‟s fun.
You may even write lyrics for a song. Impressive.
Take a pack of cards somewhere and play Solitaire, or challenge
a stranger to a game, as at a café. Bring a large picture book to a
café; you will get attention if it is on artwork, travel, sports,
animals, or a collectible item.
Take an art class. Anyone can learn art and you‟ll make some
interesting friends. You can copy things or create your own for
your home or a gift. Get ready for presents for Christmas. Give
to people you know or give away to convalescent hospitals or the
homeless in the streets-anyone! Make a friend or be an
anonymous donor. Good karma.
Walk dogs or pet cats at the Humane Society one day a week.
Play with puppies at the Guide Dogs for the Blind headquarters.
Go on a computer dating service like “Match.com”. If you are
not beautiful, pick someone else not for their looks but rather for
what they say, someone older, their personality. These people
want a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Remember that! Beautiful
inside is what counts. Mention the nice things that you now do.
Don‟t give up even if you have some setbacks. Only a coward
and a fool gives up. Age gracefully. Something or someone is
good around the corner! Make someone‟s day! You may make
your own.
Talk to owners of pets (strangers walking their dogs) and show
appreciation for the animal. The owner will like you and so will
the pet! Make friends.
Buy a bookcase and comb Goodwill for interesting books, even
if you only want to skim them. Having a book collection
impresses women and men. Include some children‟s books and
comics. You never know who will come over. Which reminds
me: make your home into your beautiful „palace‟. You and
others will feel better with beautiful colors (pillows, flowers,
green plants, cards on a bulletin board or refrigerator) - sensual
things like artwork, craftwork, modern touches, lighting. Buy an
“ELLE Décor” magazine for ideas. Have entertaining things for
women, men, and children.
Think you are unable to have a child (you are a woman or man
with a disease or too old)? Date single parents and become
June 2010
Artful Recovery
Art Exhibition
Riley Street Art Supply
1138 Fourth Street, San Rafael
Enterprise Resource Center
Saturday Art Group
July 8th to August 12
Mon-Sat 10am to 6pm
Sun.11am-4pm
Artist Reception July 9, 6-9 pm
(coincides with San Rafael Art Walk)
Work in this exhibition includes multimedia drawings,
paintings and collages. Susan Goldsmith is art facilitator
and curator.
www.namimarin.org
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NAMI Marin call 415-444-0480 nami@namimarin.org
June 2010
Community Resources
Help in a Crisis
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Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES)— 499-6666 24 hour crisis line.
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Police officers with special training for mental health crises are available in most
communities and should be requested if you need police intervention.
Suicide Prevention & Crises Hotline 499-1100. Telephone counseling 24/7.
Warm Line 459-6330, phone support for peers, operated by peers through the Enterprise Resource Center.
www.marinsheriff.org for jail booking log.
For mental health resources, call NAMI Marin 444-0480.
Family Service Agency 555 Northgate Dr., San Rafael, 491-5700. Variety of individual and group counseling
services. MediCal/sliding scale. Office also in Sausalito, 3000 Bridgeway Dr, Suite 205, 415-332-3129. Bilingual.
 P.A.C.E. Dual Diagnosis (Promise, Acceptance, Choice, Empowerment) group for people with chronic mental illness and
substance abuse problems. Uses Harm Reduction model. Meetings are every Monday and Thursday, 1:30 to 3 pm.
Contact Annette Holloway 491-5728.
 Adult Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training groups Annie Arora, Ext. 2073.
 Best of Both Worlds for immigrant families, starts May 3 for 12 weeks, Mondays, 6-7:30pm (Conducted in Spanish).
 Recovery and Wellness for Women Every Monday 5:30-7pm. Seeking Safety model for women with trauma, addiction,
and mental health issues Melissa Troncin, Ext. 2049.
 Survivors of Suicide starting in May. Call Tom Schmidt, Ext. 2089.
Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) 250 Bon Air, Greenbrae (up the hill)
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Family Support Group facilitated by CMHS staff, every Thursday 7-8:30 pm. 1st Floor Conference Room. Drop-in group
Kathy Chestnut , 499-6805. Free.
Managing Voices and Negative Thoughts is lead by Robin Buccheri and Hilary Spaulding, 2nd Tuesday of the month from
12 to 1 pm, 1st Floor Conference Room. E-mail Robin at buccherir@usfca.edu or call (415) 422-6498. Free.
Family Partner Provides support services for families with adult members with mental illness. Located on the 1st floor,
Office #1420 Barbara Juniper, 415-473-4382 or 415-419-4269 (cell) . Free
Buckelew Programs
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Buckelew Employment Services 3270 Kerner Blvd, Suite A, San Rafael 456-9350. Free.
Orientation for new clients who want assistance is every Tuesday, 12 Noon to 1 pm. No appointment is required. Free.
Buckelew Housing— Renee Mendez-Penate, Supervisor, Case Management & Housing, CMHS 499-6835.
Buckelew Transitional Age Youth Program (TAY) for young adults 16 to 26 years old. Call Kathy Eagle 460-2167. There
is also a Family Support Group the first Monday only on June 7, 6-7:30pm at the TAY Center, 980 Lincoln Ave.
Suite 250, San Rafael. Call Nellrose Graham, 336-6644. Free
Other Resources Available in the Community
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Alano Club Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA) Diana, 456-8479.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Friends & Family of People w/ BPD. Support & Psychoeducation Group that
meets on the first Thursday of each month , 7 to 9 pm (drop-in) at the DBT Center of Marin, San Anselmo ($20 fee per
person) Dr. Kari Wolman, 459-5206.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Training Group for Adolescents and their Parents, at the DBT Center of
Marin in San Anselmo. David Fish, 847-3236, Ext. 2 or dvfish@earthlink.net.
New Directions in Education Program Supportive services to students recovering from mental health issues and who want
to attend classes at College of Marin. Disabled Student Services in the Learning Resource Center, Room 136-5, College of
Marin 302-0225.
Life Skills Group by Elpida House staff, Fridays 1:30 to 3 pm. Please call Laura at 499-8613. Ext. 2.
Beyond Hunger Program for Eating Disorders 459-2270 or www.beyondhunger.org.
AD/HD (attention disorders) parent and adult support/educ. groups by CHADD 789-9464 or www.chaddnorcal.org.
Kaiser Psychiatric Services Advice and education 820 Las Gallinas, San Rafael 444-3522.
Community Institute for Psychotherapy Reduced cost psychotherapy. Call 459-5999.
Matrix Parent Network & Resource Center Provides information and support groups for families of children with
disabilities. Visit www.matrixparents.org or call 1-800-578-2592.
C.A.R.E. Team, a mobile outreach program for people with mental illness who are homeless or at risk of being homeless
Peter Planteen, 847-1266.
www.namimarin.org
Page 7
NAMI Marin call 415-444-0480 nami@namimarin.org
Enterprise Resource Center www.camentalhealth.net
June 2010
NAMI Marin Services
3270 Kerner Blvd. Bldg.A, Suite C, San Rafael 457-4554
Open 9am to 4pm M-F, 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.
Website: camentalhealth.net
MONDAYS
11am to 12 Noon
12 pm to 12:30 pm
12:30 pm to 1 pm
2 pm to 3:15 pm
TUESDAYS
11am to 12 Noon
1 to 2 pm
1 pm to 3 pm
2 pm to 3 pm
3 pm to 4 pm
3 pm to 4 pm
4pm to 5:30 pm
5:30 pm to 7 pm
7 pm to 8:30 pm
WEDNESDAYS
11 am to 12:30 pm
1 pm to 2 pm
1pm to 4 pm
2 pm to 3 pm
6pm to 8 pm
THURSDAYS
10 am to 11 am
11 am to 12 Noon
12 Noon to 1 pm
1 pm to 2 pm
1 pm to 4 pm
2 pm to 3 pm
3 pm to 4 pm
7 pm to 8:30 pm
7 pm to 9 pm
NAMI Marin Services are free. Our office is
located at 555 Northgate Dr. #280, San Rafael,
444-0480 www.namimarin.org .
 NAMI Marin General Meetings, open to the
public. Expert speaker topics. See page 8.
WRAP Group (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)
 Family-to-Family Education, a 12 week class
Smoke Busters w/Amy in the LRAC Room
structured to help caregivers understand and
Buckelew Presentation (1st Mon. of month only)
support individuals with serious mental illness
Women’s Support Group
while maintaining their own well being. Sign up
for next session (415) 444-0480.
 NAMI Family Support Group 2nd & 4th
Smoking Cessation
Tuesdays, 7-8:30 pm; 4th Tuesday 4-5:30 pm,
Women of Courage (Dual Recovery Anonymous)
Enterprise Resource Center (free drop-in).
For women ONLY

NAMI Marin Espanol Support Group
Library books- check-out in LRAC Room
1st and 3rd Thursdays, 7-8:30 pm. Enterprise
Process Group
Resource Center. Made possible by a generous
Flying Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Dual Recovery
donation from the Marika Anne Critelli Fund.
Anonymous) Open Meeting
Conducted in Spanish. Contact Elena Lopez
Calligraphy Class in LRAC Room
(415) 879-2599.
NAMI Family Support Group (4th Tuesday only)
 FamFest Dinners, monthly family & consumer
Hoarding &Cluttering Support Group
connection. Scholarships available. First
NAMI Family Support Group ( 2nd & 4th Tues.)
Wednesday of month. See page 4
 NAMI Marin Office, Monday through Friday,
1-3pm, visit for support and information.
PEER COMPANIONS
3rd & 4th Wednesday with Bruce Gurganus
 NAMI Marin Help Line Call 444-0480 1-3 pm
Computer Tutorials with Jared Warner
weekdays for support and resource information.
Process Group
 NAMI Marin Library, located in our NAMI
DBSA (Depression Bipolar Support Alliance)
office. Members may borrow from an extensive
collection of resources.
 NAMI Marin Speakers Bureau, family and
Spirituality Group
consumer speakers available for events.
Drama Therapy
 Gift of Time, volunteer and consumer matched
Smoking Cessation Group
for companionship (415) 925-0875.
Dual Diagnosis Group with Alex Markel
Computer Tutorials with Lauren Rose Lupia
Process Group
Mindfulness Group
Falkirk Cultural Center
NAMI Espanol Family Support Group (1st &
San Rafael
3rd Thursdays)
Forgiveness Workshops (1st & 3rd Thursdays)
June 18 —7-10 pm
Dance
Fun for all who come!!!
FRIDAYS
10 am to 11 am
11 am to 12 Noon
1 pm to 2 pm
2 pm to 3 pm
3 pm to 5pm
Movement Group ―Movement makes you happy!‖
Writing Group
Self-Esteem Group
Process Group
WRITE-ON Group with Robert Harry Rovin
SATURDAYS
11 am to 12 Noon
1 pm to 4 pm
8 pm to 9 pm
Process Group
Movie and Art Group
Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA)
SUNDAYS
10 am to 1:30 pm
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Unscheduled Socialization
Process Group
www.namimarin.org
Buckelew Program
Fundraiser
Visit buckelew.org
download and print flyer.
PASTA POMODORO
Will donate 20% of your bill
to Buckelew Programs.
One flyer per table.
Excludes tax and gratuity.
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage Paid
San Rafael, CA
Permit No. 641
National Alliance on Mental Illness
555 Northgate Drive, #280
San Rafael, CA 94903
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
THIS MATERIAL IS TIME RELATED
June 2010
NAMI Marin
Board of Directors
President
Kay Blackwill
Vice–President
Peg Super
Secretary
Penny Labourdette
Interim Treasurer
Peg Super
Directors
Kay S. Browne, MD
Kim Denn
Barbara Alexander, MPA
Beverlee Kell, RD
Sue Roberts, MS
NAMI Marin General Meeting
Monday, June 28, 2010 7:00-8:30 pm
Connection Center at the
Marin County Health and Wellness Campus, Room 110,
3240 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael
Doors open at 6:30 pm. Come early for social time.
NAMI Marin programs are free and open to the public.
Continuation of Discussion on Access and
Barriers to Mental Health Treatment
When you or someone you love needs mental health
treatment, how easy is it to access care? What barriers do
you need to overcome to get needed treatment?
 What can you do if your loved one does not want help?
 What if treatment is not available?
 What if no one believes that treatment is needed?
 How do you know if someone is a danger to themselves
or others?
 How do you know if someone is gravely disabled?
 How do you respond to an unsettling treatment
experience?
Spend an evening with NAMI Marin members and
psychiatrist Adam Nelson, MD, as we attempt to find
solutions to these and other challenges.
www.PSPrint.com
NAMI Marin annual membership is $35 for a family or
individual. Reduced membership fee available upon
request. With your membership you will receive this
newsletter along with State & National publications and
access to our extensive mental health library.
This newsletter is published nine times a year by NAMI
Marin, an affiliate of NAMI California and NAMI National.
Newsletter Editor: Penny Labourdette
Circulation: Karen Illich & David Illich.
Labels: Sue Roberts
San Rafael Joes
Thank You
San Rafael Joes
For
Supporting
NAMI Marin
FamFest
Artist: Steve Freschi
Summer Schedule-Page 4