MEETINGS

A. "Caring and Sharing" Support Groups - What happens? A small group of family members (usually a group of six to ten) share their mental illness problems and stories. (No one has to share unless he or she wants to.) Since everyone attending has or is going through the same things, everyone understands and offers comfort. Often someone has a helpful idea or describes a similar experience and how it worked out.

Each group is coordinated by a long-time AMI volunteer who keeps things going and makes sure everyone who wants to talk, gets a chance.

B. "Expert Speaker/Information" Meetings - What happens? In an auditorium setting (usually attended by between 50-75 people), professional experts who have information that would be helpful to to families speak briefly but then open the meeting to questions from the audience. These question and answer sessions usually last about two hours.

What kind of experts? Several times each year the expert is a community psychiatrist who specializes in the major mental illnesses. Other experts speak and answer questions about estate planning when disability is involved, government benefits (SSDI, SSI, Medi-Cal and Medicare), communication between family members, various mental health programs in the SF Valley, etc.

At Speaker Meetings, an information rack is put out offering more than thirty different pamphlets and information sheets. They are free.

2. Northridge Hospital meetings

 Northridge Hospital
18300 Roscoe Blvd.
(Mental Health Institute, park off Etiwanda St.)

3. West Valley Christian School Meetings

4. Santa Clarita Mental Health Clinic Meetings

5. Nearby Community "Care and Share" Groups not affiliated with NAMI:

6. Other NAMI Affiliates in the Area: