About the time I was informed that our only son was living with schizophrenia, I was introduced to NAMI North Coastal San Diego County and offered a 12 week class free of charge. That class saved my life and the lives of my family. I learned all about my son's diagnosis, and what I could do to help him, myself, the rest of our family and others living with severe mental illnesses and their families as well. When mental illness happens you, as a relative, are faced with the same grief, loss and frustration as with any other serious, chronic, incurable illness; but you also have STIGMA. I feel empowered to face it all: grief, loss and stigma with the support, strength and tools NAMI North Coastal San Diego County has given me. Without the support, education and advocacy of this wonderful nonprofit, I would still be the "deer in the headlights" person the day I learned about our beautiful son's illness! NAMI North Coastal San Diego County offers so much in the form of support (support groups for families, friends, caretakers, loved ones); education (12 week Family to Family classes, monthly meetings, and 10 week Peer to Peer classes); and advocacy in the form of In Our Own Voice Presentations by those living with mental illnesses, and uniting to speak out for our loved ones who have trouble speaking out for themselves.
There is so much to be done for the care, housing and support of our families and friends: Jail should not be our hospitals, these are real people with real issues and should never be dismissed as "crazy", good medical and psychiatric care needs to be made available as with any illness as well as housing. NAMI North Coastal San Diego County is working hard for solutions!
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In June of 1997, my husband and I got the news that our only son while away at college was sick with an incurable chronic desease-schizophrenia. We were devastated grief stricken and felt helpless. His whole life was ahead of him,,,why? We knew little about the illness and our hearts ached as we argued about how to help. Our son's psychiatrist suggested a group called NAMI. National Alliance on Mental Illness. He got us in touch our local affiliate, NAMI North Coastal San Diego County. They saved our lives. Cue the angels singing! We met families like ours, shared our stories, cried on each others shoulders and learned about the illness and about all the resources available for us and for our son as well as how we could help others. We feel we have been truly blessed to have NAMI North Coastal San Diego County in our lives. We have benefitted from joining NAMI and helping others. One of the first things we did was to participate in a free 12 week NAMI Family to Family class. We felt empowered after learning all about brain disorders, medications and how they work, diagnostic criteria, what to do in a crisis, how to effectively communicate with an ill person, and so much more. Resources and books were made available to us. We all helped each other. Both my husband and I became NAMI Family Support Group facilitators and Family to Family teachers and served on the NAMI North Coastal board.
NAMI North Coastal San Diego County has contributed so much to our community with education, advocacy and support. In addition to the 12 week Family to Family classes and support groups , NAMI North Coastal offers a 10 week Peer to Peer classes and support groups for those living with mental illnesses. They offer amazing "In Our Own Voice" presentations (structured presentation with video by folks recovering from brain deseases telling their stories) throughout the community. They have assisted with implementing solutions for emergency care with emergency walk-in assessment centers, for housing with the Fairweather Lodge supported housing, for advocacy with an annual NAMI walk and with presentations at local community groups and churches.
I am both thankful and proud to be part of NAMI North Coastal San Diego County,
NAMI North Coastal San Diego County saved my life and my family member's life. When our son was diagnosed with schizophrenia, we did not know where to turn. We were overwhelmed with issues of symptoms, responsibility and frustration. We felt alone in our turmoil until someone suggested NAMI. Through NAMI North Coastal we met others with shared experiences, we have learned about resources, about the illness, about coping strategies - all for free. All of their programs are free. Our son took their Peer to Peer course and did likewise. All the money in the world could not have provided me & my family the comfort, tools and resources NAMI North Coastal has. This is a lifelong illness & the journey continues, but now we have an itinerary, knowledge & travel companions!