Nami Eastside

NAMI EASTSIDE'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, SUPPORT, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS SO THAT ALL PEOPLE IMPACTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS CAN BUILD BETTER LIVES.

ALL OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING EDUCATION & TRAINING, RURAL EXPANSION, CONSUMER SUPPORT, AND COMMUNICATION & OUTREACH.COMMUNICATION & OUTREACH:NAMI-EASTSIDE SENDS OUT A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER CALLED "YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MINUTE". EACH NEWSLETTER HAS A THEME. NAMI-EASTSIDE DOES MONTHLY ANNOUNCEMENTS OF ALL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE CALLED "THE PROGRAM RUNDOWN".SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, LINKEDIN, TWITTER, AND OTHER PLATFORMS ARE UTILIZED TO ANNOUNCE NAMI-EASTSIDE INITIATIVES, NEW PROGRAMS, EVENTS, AND FUNDRAISING DRIVES. NAMI-EASTSIDE HAS A PHONE LINE AND CONDUCTS OUTREACH WITH UNITE US PLATFORM, FAITH COMMUNITIES, SHELTERS SERVING THE UNHOUSED, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. NAMI-EASTSIDE WORKS WITH ENTRE HERMANOS, CENTRO CULTURAL MEXICANO, AND OTHER PARTNERS IN THE LATINX COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP SPANISH LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. IN ADDITION, THEY HELP COORDINATE ENDING THE SILENCE PRESENTATIONS TO SCHOOLS. NAMI-EASTSIDE HAS DEVELOPED PARTNERSHIPS WITH MUNICIPAL LEADERS AND STAFF, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND EMT'S, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. NAMI-EASTSIDE HAS DEVELOPED A MULTICULTURAL STEERING COMMITTEE TO STRENGTHEN THEIR PARTNERSHIPS WITH LEADERS OF INDIAN AMERICAN, MUSLIM, LATINX, LGTBQ+, AND OTHER BIPOC ORGANIZATIONS TO ADDRESS CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC BARRIERS TO INDIVIDUALS GAINING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND EDUCATION. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH YWCA TO SPONSOR INTERNS WHO LEARN JOB SKILLS AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STAFF SUPPORT TO OUR AFFILIATE. EDUCATION & TRAINING:MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID IS A COURSE THAT TEACHES HOW TO IDENTIFY, UNDERSTAND, AND RESPOND TO SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESSES AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. THE TRAINING PROVIDES SKILLS YOU NEED TO REACH OUT AND PROVIDE INITIAL HELP AND SUPPORT TO SOMEONE WHO MAY BE DEVELOPING A MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE PROBLEM OR EXPERIENCING A CRISIS. YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID FOCUSES ON SKILLS TO PROVIDE INITIAL SUPPORT TO CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS (AGES 6-18) WHO MAY BE DEVELOPING A MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE CONDITION. NAMI SMARTS FOR ADVOCACY IS A HANDS-ON MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY TRAINING PROGRAM THAT HELPS PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY, TRANSFORM THEIR PASSION AND LIVED EXPERIENCE INTO SKILLFUL GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY ON PUBLIC POLICY AND INITIATIVES THAT WILL SUPPORT COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. IN OUR OWN VOICE (IOOV) ALLOWS ADULTS LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS TO GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM BY SHARING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH JOURNEY. PRESENTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS OR OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE THAT WILL DISPEL MYTHS AND INCREASE REAL UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND RECOVERY. PRESENTERS ARE FROM OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND ARE TRAINED BY NAMI. THE 90-MINUTE OR 50-MINUTE PRESENTATION FORMAT CONSISTS OF A 12-MINUTE VIDEO AND TWO SPEAKERS WHO SHARE THEIR STORIES WITH TIME FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. PRESENTATIONS CAN BE MADE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS (INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE), CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ROTARY CLUB, OR RELIGIOUS GROUPS. NAMI-EASTSIDE PARTNERS WITH EVERGREEN HOSPITAL TO PROVIDE A MONTHLY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, CALLED THE EVERGREEN FORUM, ON THE THIRD TUESDAY EVENING OF EACH MONTH. TOPICS HAVE INCLUDED MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE, MANAGING NEGATIVITY, EATING DISORDERS AND TRAUMA, PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCIES, SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS, MINDFULNESS, AND FINDING JOY IN PANDEMIC HOLIDAYS. NAMI STAFF AND LEADERS PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH PRESENTATIONS ON ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACES), RESILIENCE, AND OTHER TOPICS TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, SHELTERS, PUBLIC AGENCIES, AND BUSINESSES. RURAL EXPANSION: NAMI-EASTSIDE PARTNERS WITH INDIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SERVICES TO PROVIDE SUPPORT GROUPS GEARED TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE INDIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.NAMI-EASTSIDE PARTNERS WITH THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION GEARED TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY. CONSUMER SUPPORT:NAMI PEER-TO-PEER IS AN 8-SESSION EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR ADULTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WHO ARE LOOKING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR CONDITION AND JOURNEY TOWARD RECOVERY. TAUGHT BY A TRAINED TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN THERE, THE PROGRAM INCLUDES PRESENTATIONS, DISCUSSION, AND INTERACTIVE EXERCISES. NAMI HOMEFRONT IS A 6-SESSION PROGRAM FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS OF MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS. THE CLASS HELPS FAMILIES UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SERVICE MEMBER/VETERAN IS EXPERIENCING RELATED TO TRAUMA, COMBAT STRESS, CIVILIAN LIFE TRANSITION, PTSD, AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. NAMI HOMEFRONT LEADERS HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS IMPACTING THEIR SERVICE MEMBER/VETERAN. THEIR SPIRITUAL SUPPORT GROUP ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO USE SPIRITUALITY IN THEIR JOURNEY TO RECOVERY. THIS NONDENOMINATIONAL GROUP IS OPEN TO BOTH INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. SPIRITUAL MENTAL WELLNESS RETREATS ARE OFFERED TWICE PER YEAR. PEER WRITING SUPPORT GROUP WELCOMES ALL FORMS OF WRITING, FROM POETRY TO NOVELS. EACH WEEKLY MEETING IS LED BY ONE OF FOUR LEADERS. MEETINGS ARE DESIGNATED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS. THE DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP, NOW PARTNERED WITH NAMI-EASTSIDE, HAS BEEN FAITHFULLY SERVING THOSE WITH DEPRESSION AND RELATED MENTAL ILLNESSES SINCE 2008. THE GROUP MEETS WEEKLY ON ZOOM BUT WILL RESUME MEETING IN KING COUNTY LIBRARIES WHEN PUBLIC HEALTH CONDITIONS ALLOW FOR IN-PERSON MEETINGS. NAMI-EASTSIDE PARTNERS WITH PFLAG TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES GEARED TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY.

FAMILY PROGRAMS: LEAP (LISTEN-EMPATHIZE-AGREE-PARTNER) IS A WORKSHOP PROVIDED BY BOB KRULISH AND IS BASED ON DR. XAVIER AMADOR'S BOOK "I'M NOT SICK, I DON'T NEED HELP". PARTICIPANTS LEARN THE NUMBER ONE REASON PEOPLE REFUSE HELP ("ANOSOGNOSIA") AND HOW TO CREATE TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS THAT LEAD TO TREATMENT AND RECOVERY. FAMILY & FRIENDS SEMINAR IS A 4-HOUR CLASS THAT INFORMS AND SUPPORTS PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOVED ONES WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION. PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN ABOUT DIAGNOSES, TREATMENT, RECOVERY, COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES, CRISIS PREPARATION, AND RECEIVE NAMI RESOURCES. SEMINAR LEADERS HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS IN THEIR FAMILIES. FAMILY-TO-FAMILY WORKSHOP IS AN 8-WEEK COURSE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESSES INCLUDING SCHIZOPHRENIA, BIPOLAR DISORDER, CLINICAL DEPRESSION, PANIC DISORDER, OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD), AND MORE. THE COURSE DISCUSSES THE CLINICAL TREATMENT OF THESE ILLNESSES AND TEACHES THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT FAMILY MEMBERS NEED TO COPE MORE EFFECTIVELY.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES:NAMI ENDING THE SILENCE (ETS) IS AN ENGAGING PRESENTATION THAT HELPS SECONDARY STUDENTS AND SCHOOL STAFF LEARN ABOUT THE WARNING SIGNS OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND WHAT STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE ARE SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF A MENTAL ILLNESS. NAMI ENDING THE SILENCE PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE A LEAD PRESENTER WHO SHARES AN OVERVIEW ON MENTAL HEALTH AND A YOUNG ADULT WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION WHO SHARES THEIR JOURNEY OF RECOVERY. IN THIS 90-MINUTE OR 50-MINUTE PRESENTATION, AUDIENCE MEMBERS CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND GAIN UNDERSTANDING OF AN OFTEN-MISUNDERSTOOD TOPIC. THROUGH DIALOGUE, WE CAN HELP END STIGMA AND PROVIDE SECONDARY STUDENTS WITH MENTAL WELLNESS TOOLS TO GUIDE THEM BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM CONNECTS WITH SECONDARY STUDENTS IN EAST KING COUNTY TO ELEVATE THE VISIBILITY AND IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL WELLNESS AND SUPPORT TEEN MENTAL HEALTH CLUBS AND PROGRAMMING.