NAMI, the acronym for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is a grass roots, self help, support and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of families who have relatives with a brain disorder (mental illness).  This includes families and consumers diagnosed with a mental illness, relatives and friends, mental health professionals, and all who share NAMI's vision and mission.

NAMI was founded in 1979 by 254 caring people and now has grown to more than 210,000 members in over 1,200 affiliate groups in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Guam.  NAMI is getting stronger every day.  In fact, Worth Magazine recently ranked NAMI in its "Top 100 charities most likely to change the world."

NAMI Urban Los Angeles (NULA) is the Urban Los Angeles Affiliate of NAMI National -California. It is a non-profit, grassroots, self-help, volunteer support, education and advocacy organization of consumers, family members and friends of persons afflicted with serious brain disorders (mental illnesses), such as schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders among others. NULA began as a support group of African American mothers in 2000. In 2003 the women joined the NAMI family and opened their chapter which is dedicated to mental health issues affecting communities of color. NULA provides education about severe brain disorders, supports and advocates for adequate health insurance, housing, rehabilitation and jobs for people with serious psychiatric illnesses.

Sobre NAMI Urban LA

NAMI, La voz nacional de salud mental, es una organización comunitaria de auto-ayuda, apoyo y defensa de las personas que tienen enfermedades mentales severas, sus familiares y amigos. NAMI está compuesta por 220.000 miembros y más de 1.200 grupos locales y estatales en los Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico.

NAMI quiere que sepa que usted no está solo

NAMI está aquí para compartir su comunidad de esperanza. En los momentos en los que más ayuda necesitan para sobrellevar los desafíos de una enfermedad mental, NAMI les brinda aceptación, comprensión, información y apoyo.

Toda persona interesada puede llamar a nuestra Línea de Ayuda gratuita (1-800-950-NAMI) para recibir información y para localizar una afiliada de NAMI en su área. La Línea de Ayuda está disponible de lunes a viernes de 10:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m. (Tiempo del Este.)

• Recursos en Español : Hojas informativas sobre las enfermedades mentales, información acerca de cursos de educación, grupos de apoyo, y la línea de ayuda.
• Centro de Acción Multicultural : Actividades y noticias del Centro de Acción Multicultural de NAMI y la Coalición de Organizaciones Hermanas
• Ultimas Noticias : Anuncios y noticias sobre lo que está pasando ahora en el mundo de salud mental.
• Más Información de NAMI : Nuestra misión, La estructura de NAMI;  incluyendo las afiliadas locales, organizaciones estatales, y NAMI al nivel nacional.
• Foros y Grupos de Discusión
• Comuníquese con Nosotros
• ¡Avanzamos!

THE YEAR 2007

2007 is the year that NULA’s motto “No Family Stands Alone” became a reality!  The passing of Bebe Moore Campbell, our sister in the struggle, left us all reeling. Her indomitable spirit, however, has been ever present.  NAMI gained a guardian angel who continues to watch over us. Our new offices opened in Leimert Park in January with little flourish.  We hit the ground running and haven’t looked back. The “family” came together and helped create a space where all are welcome.

Our classes have been ongoing as well as our support groups.  We trained new Family-to-Family teachers, consumer support group leaders and teams to teach the new NAMI Provider and Primary Care classes.  We reached out to the community with “AM Leimert” and gave a series of workshops, seminars and discussions on topics relevant to mental health awareness. Prominent speakers came from around the country to help in our efforts.  And we brought our workshops to conventions and conferences throughout the nation.  NAMI Urban Los Angeles continued to make its presence felt throughout the county by serving on commissions, committees and groups working towards change. We were prominently featured in the LA Sentinel supplement on Mental Health as well as on radio and local television.  We spearheaded the effort to bring the national Partnership for Prescription Assistance bus to Leimert Park. In April we officially christened our offices with “Altars of Healing”, an art exhibit and reception celebrating our fourth anniversary.  October saw our executive director, Nancy Carter, testifying before a congressional subcommittee on homelessness in Washington DC.  All in all, we’ve accomplished much.

NAMI Urban LA's Achievements

EDUCATION

NAMI Urban Los Angeles exceeded its goals for education in 2007. Four successful Family to Family education classes were completed in both English and Spanish with 55 new graduates. This brings our total number of graduates to 250 in less than 5 years. Many of these graduates have gone on to take the family education teacher training. 14 graduated from a special training held for NAMI Urban Los Angeles in October 2005 and five more have been added since then. These grads add to our current roster of 25 trained teachers, 4 of whom are qualified to teach classes in Spanish. 3 of our young adult consumers took the Peer to Peer education class provided by NAMI national and will be the first African American peer teachers to bring this program to Los Angeles in 2008. 5 family education teachers have graduated from Dr. Joyce Burland’s Provider education class and were part of. team brought this course to the Didi Hirsch Clinic in the summer of 2007. NULA piloted NAMI’s new APA collaboration project for primary care physicians at Loyola Marymount University. And Nancy Carter, received a scholarship from the Dept. of Mental Health to attend the Mental Health Directors Leadership Institute provided by the California Institute of Mental Health. 

NAMI Urban Los Angeles also provided workshops for the Dept. of Mental Health, the Dept. of Children and Family Services Annual Kinship conference NAMI National and State conventions as well as the Dept. of Probation.

SUPPORT

NAMI Urban Los Angeles continued its family and consumer programs of support in 2007. The family group expanded to twice a month and included professional speakers. The young adult consumer group met regularly and 2 of its members attended the NAMI California convention in August. In November 2 Spanish language groups were added to the roster. NULA now has an on-going relationship with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Centers and will offer a wide array of supports for its peer run wellness center

NAMI Urban Los Angeles offers on going phone support to families in need. An average of three to ten calls are taken each day. Most of these calls are requests for referrals but at least 20% are from families in crisis with a loved one in jail or missing. NAMI Urban Los Angeles continues to provide support for families of the incarcerated mentally ill through its criminal justice committee.

OUTREACH

Community outreach and engagement increased dramatically in 2007. Dr. Benita Council gave workshops and trainings at area churches and community groups on the implementation of the new Medicare Modernization Act. Two trainings were given at Excel Family Services for foster care parents. NAMI Urban Los Angeles provided workshops for the Dept. of Probation, Twin Towers Jail and Dept. of Children and Family Services. Faith based outreach included criminal justice and mental health workshops at Bible Enrichment Church. Members participated in panels and workshops for the Community Coalition, DMH Quarterly Psychiatric meeting, UCLA Chancellor’s Committee on Disability, Compton YWCA and others.

Throughout the year NULA’s voice was heard on 92.3 The Beat, Power 106 and KJLH discussing mental health issues. Nancy Carter was featured in the Los Angeles Sentinel’s special supplement on mental health. Members participated in the Free Your Mind Project on the Santa Monica Pier as well as Assemblyman Mark Ridley Thomas’s Annual Days of Dialogue.

ADVOCACY

The primary advocacy efforts of NAMI Urban Los Angeles in 2007 were concentrated on the implementation of the Mental Health Services Act. (Prop. 63) NAMI Urban Los Angeles members participated in the Stakeholder delegate process and attended weekly/bi-weekly meetings to insure that the plan for implementation would provide for communities of color. Funds from the Act will be dispersed in 2007/8 to serve unserved, underserved and inappropriately served mentally ill consumers and their families in many ethnic communities in Los Angeles County. Participation in the process was critical for our membership as well the community at large. NAMI Urban Los Angeles will continue to be represented in 2008.

NAMI Urban Los Angeles was also instrumental in the formation of the African American Alliance for Mental Health in 2005. AAAMH is a policy and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the quality of care for all African Americans suffering from mental illness in Los Angeles County. Its membership comprises mental health professionals, providers, community leaders, family members and consumers.

FUNDRAISING

NAMI Urban Los Angeles doubled its fundraising efforts in 2007. The membership raised almost $20,000. in sponsor and walker monies through its efforts in the fourth annual NAMIWALKS for the Mind of America walkathon. Membership increased by 15% and a concentrated effort was made to secure grants and private donations. (see 2007 donor list) A fundraising committee was formed in December. The goal for 2008 is to triple the amount raised in 2007 with a goal to open a Family Resource Center within the next three years.

HONORS

Nancy Carter received the Consumer of the Year award from NAMI California for her outstanding dedication to resilience and recovery.

PUBLICATIONS

Bebe Moore Campbell, NAMI Urban Los Angeles co-founder, best selling novel, “72 Hour Hold” continued to lift the veil of silence in communities of color. Her tireless efforts on behalf of those suffering with mental illness and their families is by far NAMI Urban Los Angeles' greatest “accomplishment”. Bebe is the wind beneath our wings!

NAMI URBAN LOS ANGELES PROGRAMS

NAMI’s Family-to-Family Program - 12 weeks

Current information about schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder (manic depression), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, and co-occurring brain disorders and addictive disorders Up-to-date information about medications, side effects, and strategies for medication adherence Current research related to the biology of brain disorders and the evidence-based, most effective treatments to promote recovery.

Educación familiar: De Familia a Familia - 12 semanas.

De Familia a Familia puede ayudarle a encontrar respuestas a estas y a otras preguntas. De Familia a Familia es un programa de educación para familiares y amigos de personas que tienen enfermedades mentales severas. Este programa se concentra especialmente en la esquizofrenia, el trastorno bipolar (maníaco depresión), la depresión severa, trastorno obsesivo compulsivo y el pánico. El programa es gratis para la communidad.

FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP

Family Support Group is a peer-based mutual support group dedicated to those who have a loved one with a mental illness. Led by family for family. The group discusses the daily challenges faced by family members who have a loved one with any serious mental illness. Support groups are not illness-specific, and welcome any family with a loved one who has a psychiatric diagnosis (major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia).  Our support group model allows all participants to share their experiences and learn from each other in a safe and confidential environment.

CONSUMER SUPPORT GROUP

Consumer Support Group is a peer-based mutual support group dedicated to those who live with a mental illness. Led by consumers for consumers. The group discusses the daily challenges of recovering from serious mental illness. Support groups are not illness -specific, and welcomes anyone with all psychiatric diagnoses. (major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia). Our support group model allows all participants to share their experiences and learn from each other in a safe and confidential environment. 

VOCAL (Veterans Of Color Action League)

Our support group model allows all participants to share their experiences and learn from each other in a safe and confidential environment. The veteran support group is a peer-based group for veterans recovering from mental illness. The group discusses the daily challenges faced by veterans. Support groups are not illness-specific, and welcomes any family with a loved ones of all psychiatric diagnoses. (major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia)..

NAMI WALKS

NAMIWALKS for the Mind of America, is a yearly fundraiser that NAMI Urban LA participates in. This year our affiliate alone had over 100 participants walking along our side to raise money and awareness about mental illness.  NAMI Urban LA dedicated this year’s walk to Bebe Moore Campbell, one of our Co-Founders.

Together we raised almost $20,000.

CREATION OF THE ALTAR

The four-week altar-making workshop took place on four consecutive Saturdays in March. The Altars were viewed as part on an Altar Art Exhibit. This exhibit  transformed the everyday struggles and joys of caregiving into healing experiences for both artists and audience. The workshop is given by “artist in residence”, Beverly Heath.

PRAYER VIGIL

The purpose of the annual NAMI Urban Los Angeles Prayer Vigil is to call on the Creator for help in calling attention to the critical need to de-criminalize people with brain disorders. It is a travesty of justice for the mentally ill, who are so vulnerable, to be treated solely as criminals when they need to be in treatment. We want to draw attention to this issue in order for reform to take place in the criminal justice system. It is so desperately vital that we address the needs of the mentally ill, many of whom are housed in Twin Towers, and who are often homeless and addicted to drugs and alcohol as a way of coping with severe mental illness.  We need to help them in a way that diverts them into treatment before they commit a crime or take their biological brain disorder into account when they are in the criminal justice system. The Vigil takes place in January as part of NULA’s remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.