I work closely with NAMI, as a mental health provider and peer support. They go above and beyond to provide support and resources through a variety of groups, community events, activities, and a safe place for people to gather. I often refer people there.
It started with
attending a local NAMI support group
with the push of my parents. I met a
couple there who had a son in the
hospital and I couldn't resist trying to
help them. Our families connected
and bonded and it felt great to
support someone who had been
through a similar situation as myself
only a bit ago. I have always had a
natural ability to connect with peers
and empathize with people, so earlier
this year it felt only natural to become
a Peer Support Specialist. NAMI
Western Carolina’s peer-run office
seemed to be a perfect fit because it
provided me an opportunity to lend
my abilities to a cause that was
beyond myself and to the betterment
of people with mental and emotional
challenges. Claire and Galen have
been very helpful and a pleasure to
work with along with Eduardo,
Charlie, Todd, Trey, and others. Since
I started in April, I volunteer nine
hours a week on Monday, Tuesday,
and Thursday afternoons. My
contributions to our office include
cleaning out a couple of underused
rooms, contacting other NAMI offices
around the country in hopes of
adopting similar systems such as an
internship program, and making
connections with Mission Hospital.
My recovery and my work here at
NAMI Western Carolina inspire me to
continue in this direction and further
my education to work in the mental
health field.
My curiosity led me to volunteering
with NAMI Western Carolina. I
happened to wander into the office
when they were having a volunteer
orientation (with ice cream!) and was
accepted into the fold. I started
volunteering in the office at the
beginning of June. I had recently
overcome some struggles with mental
health issues and NAMI provided the
perfect opportunity for me to give to
the community while transitioning
back into the life of a student at
UNCA. NAMI has kept me anchored
into the health community of
Asheville and I'm open to making
bridges between NAMI and the UNCA
campus. I try to put in time when I can now that the semester's begun, and NAMI has remained amenable to giving me completely flexible hours and time off when I need it, while still giving me things to do as a volunteer. I've
done everything from archiving to
spray-painting a bookshelf to helping
establish NAMI’s online activities. NAMA really is one of the 'good' ones--when not guiding a project, or directly providing support groups and giving aid to all who walk into the office, NAMI is coordinating throughout the mental health community through both internet and phone.
NAMI was there when we needed it when our loved one experienced a psychotic break. A friend who was a school counselor recommended NAMI. By attending NAMI meetings and support groups we obtained valuable, timely information and advice. NAMI was our haven, a place were everyone knew how we felt and what you were going through. Participating in NAMI's Family education program called Family- to -Family we were given additional information that helped us better understand what our loved one was experiencing, the nature of treatment options, how to maneuver the healthcare system and how we can take care of ourselves as care givers. With NAMI's help we were able to lessen the number of times that inadvertently and lovingly threw road blocks in front of our loved one on their road to recovery. Our loved one lives in recovery.
NAMI WC offers the understanding that only those with the lived experience of mental illness can provide. The volunteers at NAMI provide so much for the Asheville community-Support, Education, Awareness, Advocacy & Research. So many give so much to this grassroots organization.
NAMI WC offers Connection Support Groups for those with a mental health issues, Family/Caregiver groups for anyone supporting a person living with a mental health issue, the Family-To-Family educational program, Quartery Potluck Dinner for fellowship & support and much more!
The Peer Run office offers support in so many areas. The library is one of my favorite resources there. And the staff is knowledgeable & helpful.