Nami Thurston Mason

NAMI THURSTON-MASON PROGRAMS PROVIDE DROP IN SUPPORT GROUPS AND STRUCTURED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR BOTH FAMILY MEMBERS AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION. SEVERAL OF THESE PROGRAMS WERE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC EDUCATION FOR TARGET POPULATIONS LIKE MILITARY FAMILIES, YOUTH AND PARENTS OF SMALL CHILDREN. WE CHALLENGE STIGMA AND MISCONCEPTION WITH OUR "IN OUR OWN VOICE" PEER PROGRAM, BRINGING PERSONAL STORIES OF RECOVERY TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE IN PUBLIC POLICY BOTH AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL BY TEACHING OUR MEMBERS THROUGH OUR "NAMI SMARTS" PROGRAM HOW TO TELL THEIR PERSONAL STORIES. NAMI THURSTON-MASON WAS STARTED IN 1986 BY A GROUP OF PARENTS WHO WERE LOOKING FOR SERVICES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. OVER THREE DECADES THE ORGANIZATIONS PROGRAMS HAVE CHANGED AND GROWN BUT OUR MISSION AS STAYED THE SAME. WE STRIVE TO SERVE OUR MEMBERSHIP AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY PROGRAMMING. SINCE ITS INCEPTION OUR ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS, MEMBERSHIP DUES AND CONTRIBUTIONS. TRAINED NAMI VOLUNTEERS BRING PEER-LED PROGRAMS TO A WIDE VARIETY OF COMMUNITY SETTINGS, FROM CHURCHES TO SCHOOLS TO HOSPITALS. WITH THE UNIQUE UNDERSTANDING OF PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, THESE PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT GROUPS PROVIDE OUTSTANDING FREE EDUCATION, SKILLS TRAINING AND SUPPORT. NAMI PEER PROGRAMS PROVIDING A VOICE FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY STRUGGLE IN FINDING THEIR OWN. IT MEANS ADVOCATING FOR PEOPLE, ENCOURAGING THEIR RECOVERY. AND IT OFTEN MEANS EDUCATING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUTSIDE PROVIDERS. AS TRAINED NAMI PEER PROGRAM LEADERS, WE WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO NEED ME TO HOLD ONTO THEIR HOPE FOR THEM UNTIL THEY'RE READY TO HOLD IT FOR THEMSELVES, JUST AS I ONCE NEEDED. NAMI CONNECTION PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUP IS A FREE, PEER-LED SUPPORT GROUP FOR ADULTS LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. YOU WILL GAIN INSIGHT FROM HEARING THE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES OF OTHERS, AND THE GROUPS ARE LED BY NAMI-TRAINED FACILITATORS WHO'VE BEEN THERE. NAMI'S SUPPORT GROUPS ARE UNIQUE BECAUSE THEY FOLLOW A STRUCTURED MODEL TO ENSURE YOU AND OTHERS IN THE GROUP HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD AND TO GET WHAT YOU NEED. THE GROUPS MEET ON A BI-WEEKLY, WEEKLY OR MONTHLY BASIS. NAMI PEER-TO-PEER IS A FREE, 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. EVERYTHING IS CONFIDENTIAL, AND NAMI NEVER RECOMMENDS A SPECIFIC MEDICAL THERAPY OR TREATMENT APPROACH. NAMI IN OUR OWN VOICE PRESENTATIONS CHANGE ATTITUDES, ASSUMPTIONS AND STEREOTYPES BY DESCRIBING THE REALITY OF LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS SHARE THEIR POWERFUL PERSONAL STORIES IN THIS FREE, 60- OR 90-MINUTE PRESENTATION. NAMI IN OUR OWN VOICE ADDS A CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE TO THE POPULAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ARE LIKE. NAMI FAMILY-TO-FAMILY IS A FREE, 12-SESSION EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR FAMILY, SIGNIFICANT OTHERS AND FRIENDS OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. IT IS A DESIGNATED EVIDENCED-BASED PROGRAM. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE PROGRAM SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVES THE COPING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITIES OF THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO AN INDIVIDUAL LIVING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION. WHAT YOU'LL GAIN: NAMI FAMILY-TO-FAMILY NOT ONLY PROVIDES CRITICAL INFORMATION AND STRATEGIESFOR TAKING CARE OF THE PERSON YOU LOVE, BUT YOU'LL ALSO FIND OUT THAT YOU'RE NOT ALONE. RECOVERY IS A JOURNEY, AND THERE IS HOPE. THE GROUP SETTING OF NAMI FAMILY-TO-FAMILY PROVIDES MUTUAL SUPPORT AND SHARED POSITIVE IMPACT-YOU CAN EXPERIENCE COMPASSION AND REINFORCEMENT FROM PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND YOUR SITUATION. YOU CAN ALSO HELP OTHERS THROUGH YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE. IN THE PROGRAM, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: OHOW TO MANAGE CRISES, SOLVE PROBLEMS AND COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY OTAKING CARE OF YOURSELF AND MANAGING YOUR STRESS ODEVELOPING THE CONFIDENCE AND STAMINA TO PROVIDE SUPPORT WITH COMPASSION OFINDING AND USING LOCAL SUPPORTS AND SERVICES OUP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND HOW THEY AFFECT THE BRAIN OCURRENT TREATMENTS, INCLUDING EVIDENCE-BASED THERAPIES, MEDICATIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS OTHE IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS ON THE ENTIRE FAMILY STIGMA IS A SENSE OF SHAME AND DISGRACE THAT SETS PEOPLE LIVING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS APART FROM OTHERS. DEALING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION CAN BE TOUGH, AND THE ISOLATION AND BLAME THAT IS OFTEN ENCOURAGED BY STIGMA CAN CREATE HUGE CHALLENGES TO MOVING FORWARD IN ONE'S RECOVERY AND CAN BE A BARRIER TO FAMILY SUPPORT. STIGMA DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE. IT AFFECTS INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES AND FAMILY MEMBERS. STIGMA REDUCTION PROGRAMS PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE EFFECTS OF STIGMA, COME TOGETHER TO FIGHT STIGMA, EMBRACE HOPE AND STRIVE FOR RECOVERY. ALL NAMI PROGRAMS SUCH AS SUPPORT GROUPS, MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION CLASSES AND PRESENTATIONS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE STIGMA. "WE WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THEY ARE NOT ALONE ON THIS JOURNEY AND TOGETHER, WE HAVE HOPE" SAID NAMI NATIONAL'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: MARY GILBERTI. ENDING THE SILENCE IS AN ENGAGING 50 MINUTE PRESENTATION DESIGNED FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AGE YOUTH. TEENS WILL LEARN EARLY WARNING SIGNS AND WHAT STEPS THEY CAN TAKE TO HELP THEMSELVES OR A FRIEND. PRESENTATION IS FREE TO SCHOOLS, YOUTH AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. IT IS LED BY A YOUNG ADULT WHO EXPERIENCED A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION DURING THEIR SCHOOL YEARS AND A FAMILY MEMBER OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO EXPERIENCED MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IN SCHOOL. THE CHANCE TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM A YOUNG ADULT WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS DISPELLS MYTHS AND STEREO TYPES, INSTILLS A MESSAGE OF HOPE AND RECOVERY AND ENCOURAGES TEENS TO REDUCE STIGMA. BY ENGAGING TEENS IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS WITH THEIR PEERS, YOUTH WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES CAN REALIZE THEY ARE NOT ALONE. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN THE CONVERSATION FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUICIDE. IT CONNECTS TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS TO THOSE MOST VULNERABLE AT RISK STUDENTS IN AN IMMEDIATE WAY. IT GIVES EMERGENCY RESOURCE INFORMATION, "EXPECT RECOVERY" BRACELETS AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS. MORE TIMELY TREATMENT RESULTS IN REDUCTION IN SCHOOL DROP RATE, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CARE, SUICIDAL IDEATION, AND DEATH BY SUICIDE.