The Beacon - NAMI Greater Orlando, Inc.

The Beacon
March & April 2012
The Official Newsletter of NAMI Greater Orlando
Inside this issue:
President's Message
1
Education Update
2
NAMIWalks
3-6
NAMIGO &
Community News
7
Feature Article
Announcements
8-10
Support Groups &
Activities
11
2012 NAMIGO
Board of Directors:
Rosemary Steinbach, President
Jan Ellison-Seay, Secretary
Deborah Parrott, Treasurer
Carla Bresnahan
Lt. Sue Brown
Linda Perez Del Rocco
Donna Helsel
Eddie Imbriani
Paula Kegelman
Wanda Keller
Michael Mangan
Muriel Jones Moore
Ron Wilensky
Linda Winters
NAMIGO Office
Executive Director:
Joe Mendoza
Staff: Barb Aikens
Mary Hott
Tracy Lutz
Contact Us:
Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Phone: (407) 253-1900
Fax: (407) 253-1912
E-mail: namigo@namigo.org,
communications@namigo.org
Website: www.namigo.org
“Blossom by Blossom the Spring Begins”
Dear NAMIGO Family,
Rosemary Steinbach
President
Board of Directors
It’s hard to believe that
Spring will arrive on
March 20th! This weekend I was contemplating
how well I was doing with my New Year’s
resolutions. One of my goals was to try to save
money (and put a little more aside for a rainy
day). And since both my kids have now left
home for College and my husband and I are
empty nesting, I set another goal to purge,
purge, purge! A final goal was to increase my
volunteerism as a way of giving thanks for my
blessings. Having the self-discipline to achieve
my goals can sometimes be a struggle for me,
but I never give up and the results are so very
rewarding! I also tried to apply my personal
goals in my service to NAMI, and here’s how
I’m doing:
Goal 1: Budget and $pend Appropriately
One of the ways NAMI Greater Orlando can
extend our outreach and help others is by
making sure that we carefully budget our
expenses so that we can continue to provide our
signature education and support classes like
Family-To-Family, Peer-To-Peer, BASICS, and
Connection. To help meet our 2012 expenses,
we’ve set a 2012 Fundraising Goal of $100,000
for our NAMIWalks. We are also looking for
opportunities to save money by paring back
expenses. We can save about $1,500 per year
just by going GREEN with our bi-monthly
Beacon Newsletter. So, like most businesses
today, we are making the economical decision to
change our newsletter distribution process. If
you have a valid e-mail address on file with the
NAMIGO office, you will receive your fullcolor newsletter electronically and this will be
your last paper issue. If you do not have an email address on file and cannot access the PDF
version at www.namigo.org, we will continue
to send you the print edition. If you have e-mail
but wish to continue receiving the print edition,
just give us a call and we’ll be glad to put you
back on the mailing list.
Goal 2: Spring Cleaning
Having just sent my last child off to college, I've
embarked on a really good spring cleaning
beginning with my kids' closets and the guest
bathroom. This time around, though, I will be
very purposeful in deciding where to donate my
gently used items. I have chosen Pathways
Drop-In Center to receive my donations of
freshly laundered clothes, shoes, and towels and
sheets we no longer need. Pathways is a mental
health consumer-run community center for
people suffering from major mental illnesses.
According to Nelson Kull, founder and
president of Pathways, the Drop-In Center is in
need of these items on a year-around basis, and I
feel good knowing my kids' things will get a
second chance to keep someone else clean and
warm! To arrange a donation to Pathways, call
407-843-5530.
Goal 3: Increase Volunteerism
I will never forget how much I learned when I
attended Family-To-Family in 2009. I made a
personal decision shortly thereafter to spread the
word about NAMI to everyone I met who was
lost or struggling to find help and answers to
questions about mental illness. My stewardship
to NAMI has been one of the most rewarding
things I have ever done. This year, I am looking
forward to teaching my second Family-ToFamily class, but I also check in with the
NAMIGO office on a regular basis to see what
else I can do to help. Even though I am going to
be away for a wedding on the day of our
NAMIWalks, it didn’t stop me from forming a
―Virtual Walk Team‖ and I have already raised
almost a thousand dollars! Won’t you take time
today to sign up to walk, or make a financial
pledge to your favorite NAMIWalks team?
"I don't know what your destiny will be, but
one thing I know: the only ones among you who
will be really happy are those who have sought
and found how to serve." - Albert Schweitzer.
Wishing you all the best for a spectacular
Spring,
2
NAMI National Education Rankings: Florida is #2 for number of Basics classes,
#5 for Family-to-Family, #2 for Peer-to-Peer, and #2 for Connection groups.
Spread the word about our signature classes!!!
Peer-to-Peer is a FREE 10-week education
course for persons living with mental illness.
For more information or to register for
upcoming classes, please call the
NAMIGO Office at
(407) 253-1900 or e-mail:
namigo@namigo.org.
Did you know that NAMI
Greater Orlando has recently
received a grant from NAMI
National to pilot a program
developed by NAMI FaithNet to
reach
out
to
religious
organizations?
NAMI FaithNet is a part of NAMI
which is focusing on encouraging
the
development
of
faith
communities which provide a
positive
environment
for
individuals with mental illness
and their families.
Surveys have shown that over
40% of Americans seeking help
with mental health issues turn first
to ministers, priests and rabbis.
Unfortunately these faith leaders
often have neither the time,
inclination or training to offer
truly
effective
therapeutic
supportive care.
Basics is a FREE six-week education course offered
to parents and other caregivers of children and
adolescents with mental health issues.
Family-to-Family is a FREE 12-week
education course for families, friends and
caregivers of individuals with mental illness.
NAMI FaithNet has developed a
PowerPoint presentation entitled
Bridges of Hope, which is a well
thought out tool to be used to
educate religious organizations
about mental illness.
Ask yourself…
Would my place of worship be
open to showing Bridges of
Hope? It could open the door to
creating a positive faith experience for individuals affected by
mental illness.
We need your help to make
this program successful. Would
you be willing to do the
following?


Show this PowerPoint presentation to members of a
church, synagogue, or temple?
Share your personal story
regarding mental illness with
these groups?
If you're interested in doing this
type of outreach, you will receive
training.
NAMI FaithNet has
developed a four-part training
program to assist NAMI members
in reaching out to faith
communities.
If you this type of outreach is not
for you but you feel your place of
worship might be open to creating
a mental health ministry, please
give us the name of your church,
synagogue or temple.
Reducing the fear, stigma and
misunderstanding
concerning
mental illness will take time.
Education of faith communities is
an excellent place to start.
If you feel called to practice faithbased outreach with us, please
contact Karen Archbold at (407)
814-4486 or Grace Ingwalson at
(407) 333-2114.
3
I walk
for my
son,
David.
Who
will you
walk
for????
Cruising To Recovery…
Our Journey Together
Each of us has a personal reason for
being a part of NAMI Greater
Orlando. I am a part of NAMIGO
for my son, David.
I encourage you to take part in our 8th
Annual NAMIWalks, Changing
Minds One Step at a Time, to make
a difference in the lives of our loved
ones!
Wanda Keller and I are Walk CoChairs for the second time and we
are extremely excited about the 2012
NAMIWalks. Our Walk Committee
and volunteers are working diligently
to surpass our goal of $100,000!
We also have many fun events
planned for Walk Day such as face
painting and a balloon artist for the
kids. Bring your loose change and
checkbooks for our Silent Auction
Booth - it is bigger than ever!
We will have Orlando Magic signed
memorabilia, paintings donated by a
local artist, a handmade quilt made
by our very own Raymond Young,
and many more surprises.
We will also be selling raffle tickets
for
the
Starwood
Vacation
Ownership’s 7-night stay at a resort
in Mexico. Finally, there will be an
Arts & Crafts area showcasing our
consumers’ paintings and jewelry.
Cruising To Recovery…Our
Journey Together, our theme
this year, is based on an incentive
program announced by NAMI
National in connection with Sunrise
Premiums.
Per the agreement with Sunrise
Premiums, they are providing travel
packages for a CRUISE to each
NAMIWALKs site. NAMIGO was
fortunate to receive several vouchers
this year.



One will be raffled off to a lucky
registered Team Captain at our
KOL (must be present to win)
One will be auctioned off at our
Silent Auction Booth on Walk
Day
One will be awarded to a
fundraiser that has raised at least
$50 ONLINE during the course
of the contest as follows:
a)
For each $50 raised online,
a participant will receive an
entry in the contest
b) The contest will run from
the Team Captain Kick-Off
Luncheon, March 6th, until
midnight Friday following
the WALK event, and
c)
The contest winner will be
selected by the WALK
Manager
using
the
designated random selection
process.
Register online @
http://www.nami.org/namiwalks/FL/GO
In addition, we have a new incentive for
our official NAMIWalks T-Shirts. This
year to be eligible for a T-Shirt you must
raise $100.00 online.
Don’t miss the boat on these
wonderful opportunities!
My fellow Walk Co-Chair Wanda Keller
and I know we can reach this year’s
record-breaking goal of $100,000 with
your help!
Please consider starting a team and
recruiting your family, friends, neighbors
and co-workers.
Help us spread
awareness about mental illness, about
NAMI and our programs.
Wanda and I look forward to seeing you
all on Walk Day!
Paula Kegelman
Board of Directors, Walk Co-Chair
We welcome former
Florida House
Representative and
Community advocate
Dick Batchelor as our
Honorary Walk Chair!
4
Fundraising Tips
How to Get Folks to…
“Show You the Money!”
1) Set up your team or personal
walker page online.
2) Day Off Opportunity Drawing: Ask
your company to donate a paid day
off to the winner of a drawing. Sell
tickets for $5-$25 to your coworkers (this is an easy way for
most companies/ businesses to
contribute without donating cash.
3) Ask your local community groups,
houses of worship, professional
organizations and volunteer
organizations if you can make a 5
minute announcement at their next
meeting
and
pass
out
a
personalized pledge form.
4) Collection Jar: Place a collection
jar with a personalized label on
your desk and in common break
areas for "impulse" donations.
5) Dinner Party:
Gather an
assortment of tantalizing items
and invite your foodie friends
and family over for a special
dinner party for $20 per person
(try to get the food donated).
6) 50/50 Opportunity Drawing:
Hold a 50/50 opportunity
drawing for certain time periods:
a week, two weeks or a month.
Half the money goes to the 2012
NAMI Walks, and the other half
goes to the winner of the
drawing.
7) Dress Down Days at work:
Ask management if you can have a
Dress Down Day at work to benefit
your team. Charge people $5 to
wear jeans to work on Fridays or
any other specified day. This is a
quick and easy way to raise big
bucks.
8) Karaoke Night: Sell tickets for an
evening of not-quite "professional"
singing at a local bar or at home.
Get people to donate money to stop
their friends from singing or have a
singing contest. Charge an entry fee
and have proceeds from the ticket
sales go to your team fundraising
goal.
9) Have FUN in your Fundraising.
Use your Creativity!!!
Walk Volunteers Needed!
Before the Walk
 Help
Day of Walk
get
food
and
refreshments (coffee, bottled
water, juice boxes, sports
drinks, bagels, donuts, snack
foods, fruit, etc.) donated for
the Walk
 Set up the Walk site
 Help recruit companies or
 Serve refreshments
businesses in the community
to sponsor the Walk by
making a cash donation or
donating goods or services in
support of the event
 Help get other people and
businesses that you know or
have
connections
with
involved
 Assist with parking & traffic
control
 Register walkers
 Hand out event t-shirts
 Break down the Walk site
 Clean up at the end of the
Walk
 Bring your camera – send us
your pictures for our
Facebook page & website
Walk Committee
Won't you join us for our next
volunteer meeting for our
NAMIWalk?
Our meetings are held via
conference call
on Mondays @ 6:30 p.m.
To join the meetings, please
call (605) 715-4920 and enter
pass code 433011#.
MEETING SCHEDULE
th
March 12
th
March 26
nd
April 2
th
April 9
rd
April 23
Contact Tracy Lutz @ (407) 253-1900 or communications@namigo.org to volunteer!
NAMI GREATER ORLANDO IS PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE NEW PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTERS:
La Amistad BHS
Helen Booth, Lakewood Center
5
43
PASS THIS FLYER ON to Friends, Colleagues, Your Church, or Your Zumba Class!!!
6
Win a 7-Night Stay at Starwood Vacations Ownership Resort!
Ticket Price: $15.00 Minimum Prize Value: $3,000 to Benefit NAMI Greater Orlando
Prize can be redeemed at the below Starwood Vacation Ownership Resort:
Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort in Cancun, Mexico (1-bedroom premium villa)
All villas feature full kitchens. The vacation is valid through April 28, 2013. It is based on
availability, and holiday periods are excluded. The winner must travel on a
Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Drawing will be held at the NAMIGO Summer Quarterly Meeting at
Beardall Senior Center, 800 South Delaney Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 on
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.
Winner need not be present to win.
=================================== cut here===================================
Please return completed form with payment to:
NAMI Greater Orlando, 1800 Mercy Drive, Suite 300, Mailbox 4, Orlando, FL 32808
Name _______________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________
Phone ______________________________________________________
Email ______________________________________________________
Number of Tickets ________________
X $15.00 each
Amount Enclosed _________________
PASS THIS FLYER ON to Friends, Colleagues, Your Church, or Your Zumba Class!!!
7
Community Partnership
Our own Lt. Deanne Adams was
honored as Central Florida CIT
Officer of the Decade at the Central
Florida Crisis Intervention Team
Annual Appreciation Breakfast on
Friday, February 3rd.
Mental health advocate and journalist
Pete Earley was the keynote speaker. Chief Paul Rooney of OPD
provided the closing remarks and
Matt Shenk performed his song, "A
Little More".
Florida's Crisis Intervention Team
(CIT) is a state-wide police response
program designed for first responders
who handle crisis calls involving
people with mental illness including
those with co-occurring substance
use disorders.
It emphasizes the partnership
between law enforcement, mental
health providers and advocacy
groups, and consumers and their
families. To learn more about CIT,
please visit the Florida CIT webpage.
Pete Earley, author of Crazy: A
Father's
Search
Through
America's Mental Health Madness,
appeared on FlashPOINT on Sunday,
February 12th with WKMG's Lauren
Rowe, NAMIGO President Rosemary
Steinbach, and Orange County
Correction's Chief Tidwell.
Did you know that Orange County's
mental health diversion program, the
Central Receiving Center, has saved
law enforcement $2.2M over seven
years as a result of reducing or
eliminating the time law enforcement
must spend with each person at an
emergency room?
That's the
equivalent of 45 positions!
If you require police assistance
involving a person with mental
illness, be sure to request a CITtrained officer. We are blessed to
have this service available in
the Central Florida area.
CIT Officer of the Decade Lt. Deanne
Adams with Oakland Police Officer
Steve Valente, Winter Garden Police
Sergeant Scott Allen, and Nelson Kull,
Executive
Director/Founder
of
Pathways Drop-In Center.
(OCCD
Photo by Mike Davies)
Legislative Advocacy: We Did It!
If you require police assistance
involving a person with mental
The last several weeks have been a
illness, be sure to request a CITcrucial period for mental health
trained officer. We are blessed to
policy in the Florida State
have this service available in
Legislature.
With dwindling
the Central Florida area.
resources for mental health care at
stake, mental health advocates
descended upon Tallahassee for
Behavioral Health Day.
The 6th Annual Behavioral Health
Day was held on February 16th
during the Legislative Session to
educate Florida's legislators and
policy leaders about the behavioral
healthcare programs available to
Floridians.
Behavioral
Health
Day
was
sponsored by Florida Council for
Community
Mental
Health
(FCCMH), Disability Rights Florida,
FADAA, Florida Partners in Crisis,
the Florida Psychiatric Society, the
Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition
and NAMI Florida. It included a
"Rally at the Capitol" in the Capitol
Courtyard.
Executive Director Joe Mendoza
joined Orlando leaders from the
Mental Health Association of Central
Florida and Pathways Drop-In Center
in saying "NO CUTS" to mental
health and substance abuse spending.
Tallahassee.
Only relatively minor cuts to mental
health and substance abuse services
were approved through vigorous
negotiations between the state House
and Senate committees.
On the local front, our Honorary
Walk Chair, Dick Batchelor, and Joe
Mendoza authored, "My Word:
Suffering in the Darkness of Budget
Cuts" in the Orlando Sentinel. To
read a copy of the article, just visit
our home page at www.namigo.org.
We asked our membership to send a
clear message of "NO CUTS" to
mental health and substance abuse
spending and you responded!
Indeed, your voice was heard in
Joe Mendoza with Candy Crawford,
Rep. Scott Plakon, Karen Rogers, and
Patricia Adams.
8
What is this Recovery Thing Anyway?
The word "recovery" crops up a
lot in mental health circles.
Recovery is most often used in
the realm of addiction treatment.
But what does it really mean to
those of us living with serious
mental illness?
An expert panel convened by the
Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) created The National
Consensus Statement on Mental
Health and Recovery.
The panel defined the key
elements of recovery as the
following:
1) Self-direction: Essentially, a
person with a mental health
condition leads the process of
recovery by defining life
goals and then designing a
unique path toward those
goals.
2) Individualized and personcentered: The pathway to
mental health recovery is
based on a person’s unique
strengths, needs, preferences,
experience, and
cultural
background.
3) Empowerment: People with
a mental health condition
have the authority to choose
from a range of options and to
participate in all decisions
that will affect their lives.
They also have the ability to
join with others to speak as
advocates for their needs,
wants, and desires. Through
empowerment, they control
their own destiny.
4) Holistic:
Mental
health
recovery comprises mind,
body, spirit, and community.
It encompasses all aspects of
a person’s life such as
employment,
education,
mental health, addiction
treatment,
spirituality,
creativity, social network, and
family support.
5) Nonlinear: Mental health
recovery is an organic process
that is based on growth,
occasional setbacks, and
learning from experience. The
initial stage of recovery is
awareness
that
positive
change is possible, and from
there, being able to take an
active role in the recovery
journey.
6) Strengths-based: The mental
health
recovery
journey
builds on a person’s strengths
and talents, and moves
forward through interactions
with others in supportive,
trust-based relationships.
7) Peer
support:
Mutual
support plays a key role in
recovery. People with mental
health
conditions
can
encourage each other, share
experiences and provide each
other with a sense of
belonging and community.
8) Respect: Acceptance and
appreciation of people living
with mental health conditions
— including protecting their
personal rights and eliminat-
ing discrimination and stigma.
Self-acceptance
and
selfconfidence also are vital.
9) Responsibility: Individuals
have a personal responsibility
for self-care, and their
recovery journey. Working
toward goals can require great
courage. Identifying coping
strategies
and
healing
processes
can
promote
wellness.
10) Hope:
Recovery is a
message
of
hope and
understanding that people do
overcome the barriers and
obstacles that confront them.
Peers, friends, and family can
help to foster that hope. Hope
is what can get the recovery
process started.
This article is the
beginning of a
series
on recovery.
- What it means
- How to work toward it
- How to maintain it.
What is the language
of recovery?
For some useful tools &
insights, visit the following
websites:
Choices in Recovery
Mental Health America
9
NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US
The NAMIGO Consumer Council is the perfect forum for
consumers to get more deeply involved with NAMIGO
activities. Traditional activities include holiday parties, the
Consumer Picnic, advocacy and outreach, and
NAMIWalks.
All consumers are welcome to the meetings which are
held on the 4th Monday of each month
(except July and December) @ 6 p.m. at the
Marks St. Senior Center.
For more information, contact
Linda Perez Del Rocco @ (407) 854-6050.
MEETING SCHEDULE
th
March 26
rd
April 23
th
May 28
th
June 25
th
August 27
th
September 24
nd
October 22
th
November 26
NEW CONNECTION GROUP!
This support group is for consumers or peers individuals who live with mental illness.
When: Wednesdays
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Sedona Clubhouse
3950 North Highway 17-92, Suite 1026
Lake Mary, FL 32746
Bus line #103
This map is a close approximation of Sedona House,
which is next to Spirit of Truth Ministries.
For more directions, please call
Sedona House #: (407) 321-7015
CALLING ALL CONSUMER VOLUNTEERS!
The NAMI Florida Consumer Council is
welcoming new members!
Anyone with a mental health diagnosis is
encouraged to join and membership is free.
Make new friends & contacts with consumers
from around the state of Florida.
The Consumer Council is great way for you to
have your voice heard by the
NAMI Florida Board of Directors.
Beginning in April, NAMI Florida will be offering
monthly education and information calls. Watch
for announcements regarding the time
Please contact Carol Weber if you would like to
join. She can be reached at (850) 671-4445 or
cweber@namiflorida.org.
PARKING & TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS NEEDED!
Consumer volunteers are needed to help with parking
and traffic control at the upcoming
NAMIWalks on Saturday, April 28th at Lake Lily Park in
Maitland. If you have enjoyed bowling, movies, or other
Consumer Activities in the past, this is your chance to
"give back" to NAMI Greater Orlando!
Parking during the Walk is one of the traditional
responsibilities of the Consumer Council and we will not
be successful without your help!
6
Two shifts are needed: 7 AM to 8 AM and 8 AM to 9 AM!
You can sign up to be a Parking Volunteer by calling
Linda Perez Del Rocco at (407) 854-6050.
One lucky Parking Volunteer will win a
$10 Publix Gift Card on the day of the walk, but you must
complete your shift to be eligible to win!
For more details on NAMIGO's events and meetings, visit our website
@ www.namigo.org or call (407) 253-1900!
10
The 14th Annual Family Café
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
The Family Café is pleased to announce that it has
been awarded a three-year grant from the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) to coordinate family
networking around mental and behavioral health in
Florida.
Mental Health First Aid is a groundbreaking public
education program that helps the public identify,
understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses
and substance use disorders.
The Family Café is pleased to announce that The
14th Annual Family Café is being held in Orlando!
The Annual Family Café provides a venue where
individuals with all types of disabilities and their
families from all regions of Florida can gather
information about available services and how to best
access them. It offers families access to policymaking officials, opportunities to find support by
networking with other families, and exposure to a
range of public and private resources on a grand
scale.
Register at http://www.familycafe.net/
When: June 15th through June 17th
Location: Hilton Orlando
6001 Destination Parkway, Orlando, FL 32819
Toll Free: (888) 309-CAFE
NAMI's
Ask the Doctor
teleconference is a
monthly series hosted
by NAMI's Medical
Director,
Dr. Ken Duckworth.
Typically, Dr. Duckworth is joined by another mental
health professional or advocate who in turn presents
on a topic in his or her area of expertise. Each
month, two such calls are hosted; one focuses on
adult issues, the other on child and adolescent
issues.
To access these calls, dial 1 (888) 858-6021 and
enter pass code 309918#. These calls are always
held at 11 a.m. E.T. on scheduled dates unless
otherwise noted. The Ask the Doctor schedule and
previously recorded podcasts can be found at
www.nami.org/askthedoctor.
Mental Health First Aid is offered in the form of an
interactive 12-hour course that presents an overview
of mental illness and substance use disorders in the
U.S. and introduces participants to risk factors and
warning signs of mental health problems, builds
understanding of their impact, and overviews
common treatments.
When: June 26th – 27th
Where: IKEA - Orlando @
The Mall at Millenia
Contact: Marie Dudek @
352-978-6081 or
mdudek@creatingtoday.net
Website:
www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org
SIMPLE STEPS: SPREADING THE WORD…
SHARING THE HOPE







Talk about your experience with NAMIGO with
your faith organization leaders or friends
Print out/e-mail our brochure and give it to
your health care providers. You may download
our brochure on our website's home page.
Volunteer at a health fair
Walk with us at our NAMIWalks event on
Saturday, April 28th
Post one of our NAMIWalks flyers at your local
coffee shop or community center (with
permission, of course). You may download a
flyer on our NAMIWalks tab on our website.
Like us on Facebook and invite your friends
to our NAMIWalks event found on our page
Share this weekly newsletter by clicking on one
of the social media icons at the top of this e-mail.
Need assistance? Contact us @ (407) 253-1900 or
communications@namigo.org.
Thank you for your support!
For more details on NAMIGO's events and meetings, visit our website
@ www.namigo.org or call (407) 253-1900!
11
Activities
NAMIGO Support
Groups
Consumer Support Groups
& Family Support Groups
When: Tuesdays @ 6:30 p.m.
Where: Asbury United Methodist
Church, 220 West Horatio Ave.,
Maitland
Room 14 (Consumer)
Room 15 (Family)
When: 2nd Thursday of each month
@ 6:30 p.m. (Consumers)
When: 2nd Thursday of each month
@ 6:30 p.m. (Family)
Where: La Amistad Behavioral
Health Services, 1600 Dodd Road,
Winter Park
When: 2nd Tuesday of each month
@ 6:30 p.m.
Where: St. Luke’s United Methodist
Church, 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland
Rd., Bldg. B, Orlando
Rm. 201 (Consumer)
Room 202 (Family)
When: Wednesdays @ 5:30 p.m.
Where: Sedona House,
3950 N. Hwy. 17-92, Suite 1026,
Lake Mary (Consumer)
(407) 321-7015
NAMI Conexión
(in Spanish / en Español)
When: Tuesdays @ 6:30 p.m.
Where: Engelwood Community Ctr.,
6123 La Costa Drive, Orlando
Other Support Groups
Orlando Bipolar Support
http://www.meetup.com/OrlandoBipolar-Support/
People, Inc.
~ The Mental Health Association’s
support group for anyone living with a
mental illness.
When: Mondays @ 2:00 p.m.
(English);
Wednesdays @ 2:00 p.m. (en
Español) – call to confirm day of.
Where: 1525 Robinson St., Orlando
Contact: MHA Office at (407) 8980110
Suicide Anonymous Online
~ A 12-step program provided in an
online environment designed to help
people with suicidal preoccupation
and behavior
Subscribe at: sagroupsupportsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Bowling is held every Thursday at Aloma
Lanes in Winter Park @ 2:00 p.m. Call
Rick Scott at (407) 929-1527 for further
details.
Craft Group enjoys making arts and craft
projects together, such as quilting,
scrapbooking and designing jewelry. It
meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month @
11:00 a.m. Call Christina Mollick at
(407) 937-8049 for further details.
Consumer Council is a consumer
advisory board that meets the 4th Monday
of each month @ 6:00 p.m. For more
details, please contact Linda Perez Del
Rocco @ namiflcc@hotmail.com.
Consumer Lunch & Movies takes place
the 1st Tuesday of each month. The group
meets @ 11:00 a.m. in front of Subway at
the Altamonte Mall food court for lunch
before enjoying the movies.
E-mail
Jonathan Lee @ jplfame@yahoo.com for
information on the next outing.
Lunch Bunch is a social group for
consumers and family members that meets
the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Smokey
Bones in Casselberry @ 11:30 a.m. Call
the NAMIGO Office at (407) 253-1900 for
further details.
Second Harvest is a community service
group that meets the 1st Friday of each
month. Consumer participants enjoy a
lunch and are paid for their time. Call Pat
Purcell at (407) 875-3758 if you are
interested in helping others.
This issue’s title “Blossom by
Blossom the Spring Begins” is
quoted
from
Swinburne’s
Atalanta in Calydon.
Recovery: What's it mean to you?
by Tracy Lutz
When I read (and I read a lot) articles and websites about mental illness,
they're often written by providers, caregivers, experts and healthcare
policy wonks. Don't mistake me - I'm thankful that folks are addressing
the issues around mental illness and advocating for us. But what truly
speaks to me is that authentic voice of a kindred spirit who hopes to
“simply” get out of bed today - who knows the quickening of the mind
during mania - who feels gratitude for simple things… like being able to
enjoy the sun on your face. During her lecture at Rollins in January, Dr.
Kay Redfield Jamison spoke of teaching her students that most haunting
internal narrative of the consumer: When will it happen again?
I know this question. I see it lived out in me and in my peers. For those
of us who live with mental illness, we must become the heroes of our
own lives. There is a monomyth called "The Hero's Journey" that
pervades movies, literature, and art (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings). It is
a journey of struggle, trials, transformation, and a new freedom to live.
For me, recovery is a restoration of my best self and, hopefully, a return
to grace. I want to hear from you, my travel companions, what
recovery means to you and how you navigate that journey. After all,
"The Hero's Journey" is not successful without asking for and accepting
help from others. Please e-mail me your ideas about recovery @
communications@namigo.org so we can share your wisdom in this
newsletter. If you wish, your thoughts may remain anonymous.
12
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE PAID
ORLANDO, FL
PERMIT NO. 4049
NAMI Greater Orlando
1800 Mercy Drive
Suite 300, Mailbox 4
Orlando, FL 32808
(407) 253-1900
www.namigo.org
Central Florida’s Voice on
Mental Illness
Get your walkin’ boots ready!
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services for those living with mental illness and their families in Central Florida. NAMI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization.
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