Nami Orange County

NAMI Connects

NAMI Connects is a program that premiered in the Emergency Department at Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach in August 2018. This innovative program provides an extra level of care to mental health patients and the family members who visit them. Empathetic listening, sharing of personal stories regarding mental illness, and the distribution of pertinent resources to patients and their family members are amongst the core services that Family Mentors (NAMI Connects Personnel) deliver. The purpose of this program is to aid the patients and their family members to engage in their own healing process, to restore hope, and to improve the overall quality of patient care at Hoag Hospital. Family Mentors are trained, diverse individuals with lived experience who meet one-on- one with behavioral-health patients and their family members visiting for neuro-behavioral concerns such as Suicidal Ideation (SI), Homicidal Ideation (HI), Alcohol/Substance Intoxication (ETOH), and Gravely Disabled (GD) concerns. During these interactions, Family Mentors establish a unique connection with the Patient- not quite a healthcare provider, and not unlike a friend. The conversations that ensue have no time restraints, no judgements, and offer deep relatability through lived experience, so the Patient and/or Family Member is given ample opportunity to feel comfortable. This program has been so effective at Hoag Hospital, that it has essentially “paid for itself” within its opening year. The money saved from preventing frequently readmitted patients far outweighed the costs of implementing NAMI Connects. “Thank you for listening to me when no one else would” -Patient

Peer-to-Peer

NAMI-OC’s Peer-to-Peer is a no-cost, 8-session educational program for adults (18+) living with a mental illness who are looking to better understand their condition while on their journey toward recovery. Taught by a trained team of people who have “been there” and understand what living with a diagnosis is like, Peer-to-Peer includes presentations, discussion and interactive exercises while fostering empowerment and promoting self care practices. Information covered includes conditions such as Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Schizophrenia, Borderline Personality Disorder, and many others. This in-person group experience provides the opportunity for mutual support and positive impact. Participants leave NAMI-OC’s Peer-to-Peer with a customized relapse prevention plan and a form they can use to create their own Advance Directive for Mental Healthcare Decision Making Peer-to-Peer participants will graduate knowing: -Current information about the major mental illnesses and the most current research available on the biological aspects of these illnesses -Information on recovery, including a variety of treatment strategies currently available -Skills training in the areas of problem solving, listening, communication techniques and handling crisis and relapse -Guidance on locating appropriate supports and services within the community and offer tips of advocating for those supports and services “NAMI Peer-to-Peer is uplifting, life-saving and an eye-opening experience that changed how I see myself.” -Peer-to-Peer Participant

Peer Connector

Peer Connector is established as a twelve (12) week-long, no-cost, phone call-based support service that helps families and individuals connect with community resources, find the best care options, find solutions to problems on their own, and receive empathetic support from a Peer Mentor. Peer Mentors are trained adults who have successfully navigated the public and private mental health, and social services systems. These mentors reflect the diverse population of Orange County, both culturally and in language. Their combined training and lived experience enable them to guide family members and peers through the often-confusing maze of services available and encourage participants to become active members in their treatment/recovery process. For one hour per week, a participant will receive a call from their Peer Mentor; During this conversation, participants are free to discuss any-and-all topics that come to mind. When deemed appropriate, additional field-based “face to face” visits will be permitted in public locations across Orange County. It is the Peer Mentors job to artfully and gently weave in the benefits of partaking in their provider-prescribed mental health treatment and self-care plan. Once the weekly conversation has concluded, Peer Mentors thoroughly document the conversation on an anonymous form that is submitted weekly to the Peer Connector Coach. Peer Connectors maintain a 1:10 ratio and continue providing supportive phone calls for a minimum of twelve (12) weeks and a maximum of six (6) months. At the closure of a Peer Connector relationship, a “Closing Summary” is filled out detailing the progress made over the course of the program. “Never in my life did I think that someone would ‘get’ me like my Mentor did” -Peer Connector participant

Support Groups

NAMI-OC offers Family Support Groups and Peer support groups throughout Orange County. Our Peer and Family Support Groups are peer-led, at no-cost, and for any adult with a mental health diagnosis, or any family member with a diagnosed loved one. These groups follow a structured model, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to be heard and to get what they need. Participants gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences. Our support groups are: -Free of cost to participants -Designed for adults with a mental health condition and loved ones of people with a mental health condition -Led by peers and family members of people with mental health conditions -60-90 minutes long and meets weekly -No specific medical therapy or treatment is endorsed -Confidential Participants share their experiences in a safe setting to gain hope and develop supportive relationships with others who “get it”. This group provides an opportunity for Peers and Family Members’ personal needs to be met and allows their voice to be heard. It encourages empathy, productive discussion and a sense of community. Participants benefit from others' experiences while discovering their inner strength and sense of empowerment. “The most beneficial thing for me was that I am not alone. I found the NAMI Family Support Group at the time I really needed it!” -Family Member "NAMI’s Support Group has enabled me to take a good look at my illness and see that I am not alone. The program has given me additional tools to not only accept my illness, but to help others along the way." -Peer

Family-to-Family

NAMI-OC’s Family-to-Family is a no-cost, 10-class education program for family members of adults living with mental illness. In this program the term family is viewed from a broad perspective to include parents, siblings, spouses, adult sons and daughters, partners and significant others. The course is designed to help all family members understand and support their loved one with mental illness while maintaining their own well-being. The course includes information on Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and numerous other mental health conditions. Thousands of families describe the Family-to-Family program as “life-changing”. Family-to-Family is taught by trained teachers with lived experience as family members; They know what it is like to have a loved one living with mental illness. In May 2013, the program was added to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Programs. Family to Family includes: -Current information about the major mental illnesses and the most current research available on the biological aspects of these illnesses -Up-to-date information on the possibilities for living in recovery, including a variety of treatment strategies currently available -A class on empathy, which creates an understanding of the subjective, lived experience of a person living with mental illness -Specific skills-training in the areas of problem solving, listening, communication techniques and handling crises and relapse -An overall focus on care for the caregiver such as learning to cope with worry, stress and emotional overload -Guidance on locating appropriate supports and services within the community and offer tips of advocating for those supports and services -Information on advocacy initiatives designed to improve and expand services, with an emphasis on personal advocates for the parent/caregiver and child on an individual level “What an eye-opening experience! I feel armed with the tools necessary to help [my child]” -Family-to-Family participant