Have a Safe Holiday!

We will be observing the holidays and will not be holding Connections Peer Support Group on the first week of January as it falls on New Years Day. We will be starting back up with various events on January 3, 2014 and kicking the new year off with the Regional State Budget Hearing for the Governor's proposed budget for 2014.

Also, in the latter part of January, we will be holding an Open House for the kick off of a youth/teen activity group for youth/teens with mental illness. Please see the events page for information regarding that.

We still have spots open for Peer to Peer classes. It starts January 27, 2014. Please call (276) 669-5840 and ask for Ashley, if interested. The participant must have a mental illness.

We hope you have a safe holiday season! See you in 2014!

                                        

Now Enrolling for Peer-to-Peer Classes

We are now enrolling for Peer to Peer classes. Peer to Peer lasts 10 weeks and each class builds on each other. More information can be found under the Education Programs tab. It is for people with a mental illness only; pre-screening/registration is required to make sure people are right for the class. The classes are free.

                                              What: Peer to Peer Classes
                                              When: Monday evenings
                                                           January 27-March 31, 2014
                                                           Please call for time (pre-screening required)
                                              Where: Highlands Community Services
                                                            Board Room
                                                            610 Campus Drive
                                                            Abingdon, Virginia 24210

If interested, please call (276) 669-5840 and ask for Ashley.

Advocacy Day 2014

Every year, NAMI Virginia and the local affiliates across the state (along with other mental health organizations) come together at the General Assembly Building in Richmond, Virginia to lobby and rally to make mental health needs be known to the various representatives/legislatures. Next year is no exception. Advocacy Day 2014 will be held in Richmond, Virginia on January 20, 2014, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. If you are interested in participating in this advocacy event, please fill out the registration.

                                               Advocacy Day 2014 Registration

Thank you.

Ashley Church, President of (future affiliate) NAMI Southwest Virginia

NAMIWalks Virginia 2013 Photos

NAMIWalks Virginia 2013 was a lot of fun! Pictures are up on the Facebook page (they were taken early in the day) and there will be more up soon on NAMI Virginia's (state office) page. The hope is that next year we will have a team to represent NAMI Southwest Virginia.

Youth Support Group Coming in November

I will be attending a Youth Advisory Board training with NAMI Virginia's Virginia Family Network in early November. In the middle or latter part of November, the plan is to start a youth/adolescent/teen support group for teens around age 13-18 that have a mental illness, with young adults with mental illness serving in a facilitator/mentorship role for the group.

I have had interest in a group for kids that are upper elementary through middle school, as well, so even though they are not quite teenagers, if there is enough interest in the younger age range, we will see what we can do. I definitely would welcome guardian involvement in this, especially with the younger group.

If you are a young adult (18 years to late 20s) living with a mental illness or a guardian of a youth/teenager living with a mental illness and you are within the coverage area or surrounding area (Tennessee included) and would be interested in helping or getting your youth/teenager living with a mental illness involved in this, please email me at swvanami@gmail.com.

Thank you.

Ashley Church, President of (future affiliate) NAMI Southwest Virginia

Mental Illness Awareness Week: October 6-12, 2013

Mental Illness Awareness Week is coming up next week. Even though we had to push the Open House back, we will still be observing Mental Illness Awareness Week on Twitter and Facebook. Please join us!

                                                      Twitter: @NAMISouthwestVA
                                                  Facebook: NAMI Southwest Virginia

          

NAMI Virginia Walk 2013

The main fundraiser for NAMI is called NAMIWalks. NAMI Virginia is hosting their annual walk on October 19, 2013 at Innsbrook in Glen Allen, Virginia. I (Ashley) am trying to fund raise for the walk with the proceeds going to NAMI Virginia as we do not have a bank account set up because we are just now in the affiliate application process. Typically, it is a 50/50 split--half the proceeds raised go to NAMI Virginia and half the proceeds go to the affiliate. However, NAMI Virginia state office is going to set aside money to help us start up, so the money does come back to us. If you would like to donate to this cause, please visit 2013 NAMIWalk: Ashley Church. Thank you!