Klamath County Mental Health
N.A.M.I.
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NAMI invites you to attend support group meetings. Not only can you find help during the rough times, but you can also enjoy great satisfaction when the wisdom of your experiences helps others.
NAMI’s Family-to-Family 12-Week Education Program is offered at no cost to friends and family members of people with serious mental illnesses. The course discusses the clinical treatment of these illnesses and teaches the knowledge and skills that family members need to cope more effectively. To enroll, call Kathryn, 882-8666, Sue, 883-2827 or NAMI-Klamath, 885-4909
NAMI’s Family-to-Family Support Group meets on the lst and 3rd Tuesday of each month, 7-8:30 pm, and every 1st and 3rd Tuesday from 1-2:30 pm at the DAV Hall, 2909 Avalon St. Call Kathryn, 882-8666, for more information, or just stop by a meeting.
NAMI Care Support group is for persons facing the challenges of recovering from severe and persistent mental illness: clinical depression, manic-depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Meetings are at 1 pm every Wednesday. To attend, meet Linda in the main lobby of Klamath County Mental Health at 3314 Vandenberg Rd. or call NAMI-Klamath at 885-4909.
NAMI – Klamath is offering the “Visions for Tomorrow” curriculum. This is a free 8 week education course for parents and caregivers of children with brain disorders. Call Kathryn at 882-8666 if you are interested.
The “Breaking the Silence” curriculum is currently being shared in health classes at 2 pilot schools, Henley Jr. High and Henley High School.
Founded in 1979, the National Alliance for the Mentally ill (NAMI) was created at the national level to address the host of problems resulting from the deinstitutionalization movement and the stigma attached to mental disorders. Knowing that others have had the same experiences was a relief to those who had never before been able to speak about mental illness to neighbors, friends and sometimes even family. Learning that others have found hope and help inspires new hope for all.
“Ending insurance discrimination against the mentally ill will be our primary legislative effort,“ states Klamath Legislative Committee Chair, Lucy Butcher, whose sister suffers from schizophrenia. “We need to address the inequities that currently exist. We’re also working on getting policies on involuntary commitment and court ordered treatment modernized.“ Lucy and other members of the local NAMI group were also present every step of the way when Klamath County’s mental health service delivery system was modernized almost five years ago. They keep a strong presence on the local Mental Health Advisory Board.
NAMI considers the serious psychiatric disorders to be biologically-based medical disorders. Modern techniques of brain imaging have clearly demonstrated differences in the brain functions of non-mentallly ill people vs. those with mental illness. “We have really great hopes for new medications and a much better understanding of mental disorders,“ says Fran Gorham, mother of a son with schizophrenia.
“We insist on being part of our own treatment teams,“ states Liz, Vice-President of NAMI – Klamath, reflecting on the attitude held by all members of NAMI.
NAMI - Klamath organization officers:
Renea Wood
President
Elizabeth Darby
Vice-President and Special Events chair
Kathryn Altorfer
Treasurer and Membership chair
Lucy Butcher
Legislative chair and Family to Family educator
Sue Graves
Recording Secretary
Gladys Kovitch
Corresponding Secretary
Sue Matzen
Program chair and Family to Family educator
Fran Gorham,
Visions for Tomorrow educator
Linda Wright,
Leader of NAMI Care Support Group
