Thanks For Giving Us Your Input!  We Heard From You and Your Opinion Matters!

Thank you to everyone who participated in our 30 second online survey last month in which we asked: "What would you fix about the Mental Health System in California if you had a magic wand?" and "What change would make a difference for you or a loved one?" We got a ton of responses!

So what did you say? The issue people wanted to fix with a magic wand most often is the access to quality, affordable mental health care. There were a variety of responses as to what would make a big change for people, but one of the things we heard often was "Affordable and Stable Housing and Services."  

Both of these issues and the others we heard about (including Criminal Justice, Cultural Competence, and Effective Medication among many others) are key in the work NAMI California is doing within our advocacy, programs and services.

This year's conference will feature many speakers and workshops on these very topics and many more, learn more about that here .

Tell us more!

Click here to take a new 30 second survey

¿Qué es NAMI De Familia a Familia? NAMI De Familia a Familia es un programa de 12 clases de educación gratis para miembros de la familia de los adultos que viven con una enfermedad mental. En este programa, el término familia es visto desde una perspectiva amplia que incluye padres, hermanos, esposos/as, hijos adultos e hijas, socios y pareja.

El curso está diseñado para ayudar a todos los miembros de la familias a comprender y apoyar a su ser querido que sufre de una enfermedad mental y mantener su propio bienestar.

Administrator, John George Psychiatric Hospital
Alameda Health System

With more than 16 years of experience in hospital operations and 33 years in the behavioral health arena, Guy Qvistgaard is a thought leader in the field of acute psychiatric care administration. He is hospital administrator of John George Psychiatric Hospital (JGPH), a nationally-recognized acute psychiatric care facility located in San Leandro, California. JGPH is part of the Alameda Health System (AHS), a public health system and award-winning provider of world-class care, with 475 beds and 500 physicians at six major facilities throughout Alameda County, California. 

At JGPH, Guy Qvistgaard supports the overall mission of AHS by emphasizing the use of data, evidenced-based practice and leading edge training to change culture and produce results. He and his team are influenced by leaders in behavioral health including the work of the renowned psychotherapists Steve de Shazer and his wife Insoo Kim Berg, who pioneered a technique called Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for public psychiatric facilities. Since joining AHS in January of 2010, he has implemented a blended form of brief therapy with newer techniques to drive improved results at JGPH.

When Mr. Qvistgaard arrived at JGPH, the facility was experiencing approximately 30 incidents of seclusion and restraint per 1000 patient days (PDs). By April 2012 it has been reduced to less than five incidents per 1000 PDs. This achievement aligns the facility with best practices in psychiatric hospitals nationally.

Mr. Qvistgaard also upgraded patient surroundings and engaged behavioral health providers in community outreach. He improved the patient experience, instituting an effective patient engagement initiative that included extensive staff training in verbal de-escalation techniques. His focus on staff training and staff/patient collaboration has increased patient satisfaction and employee engagement throughout the facility.

In addition, he installed a labyrinth in the facility courtyard for patient use and meditation, increased chaplain hours and enhanced collaboration with patients' rights advocates. He has also increased the number of grants and funding through a renewed focus on grant application.

Mr. Qvistgaard's vast experience includes both private and public sector activity including managing confidential employee assistance programs for large corporations. In March, 2012, he was elected to the California Hospital Association's (CHA) Center for Behavioral Health (CBH) Advisory Board. He will serve a 3-year term on the CBH Advisory Board, an advisory body that provides direct input to the CHA Board of Trustees on issues of importance to behavioral health providers.

For 13 years prior to joining AHS, Mr. Qvistgaard was an operations executive throughout the Adventist Health System in California, including Loma Linda Medical Center. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of operations at St. Helena Hospital in Napa County, California.

Education

Mr. Qvistgaard holds a Master of Science Degree in counseling from San Diego State University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in psychology from the University of California, San Diego.  He is also a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Membership Coordinator

Eugenia Cervantes is the Membership Coordinator with NAMI California and has been with us for almost three years. Eugenia has many responsibilities within our office. She oversees the processing and completeness of our massive membership database, keeping it running smoothly and the information up to date. This requires working not only with our database, but also the National database to reconcile information each month.

Eugenia is also heading up the Re-affiliation process here and is the Affiliate Liaison, so she helps to answer questions and concerns which come up in that process (and there are a lot).

 She also manages Data Accounts Receivable, making sure membership dues are properly applied to memberships. Finally, Eugenia also keeps an eye on the voting process for NAMI California, she will be at the conference to get those last votes in and counted!

Eugenia lives in Sacramento, CA with her husband and two children.

You can contact Eugenia at [email protected]    

Hector Ramirez:  His Personal Story

There is strength in standing out from others in the community and forging a different path. Dr. Hector Ramirez is one such person who inspires his community members simply by being his own person and overcoming the obstacles on his wellness journey, while maintaining mental health on his own terms.

Dr. Ramirez, who eventually was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, and falls on the Autism Spectrum, described the most difficult stages of his journey in an interview:

"The way that my most difficult time looked like, it really felt and looked like everyone was quiet," Dr. Ramirez said. "I couldn't feel the people around me...It felt like I was walking in a city of statues, or people just standing there, not saying anything, or looking at me. It really felt like I was in a completely different place and I wanted out of there badly. I wanted out of there at all cost. I don't remember ever feeling so different and so alone than I did that time."

Dr. Ramirez described his journey to wellness as including a wealth of options for him to find the best fit for himself. Once he found a doctor who wanted to provide him the most beneficial treatment options for his particular needs, recovery seemed well within reach.

"One of the things that I would really want to tell members of the Native American community who don't seek help is that hope is never-ending," Dr. Ramirez said. "If one feels like there is nothing that will make it better again, I want them to recognize there is; go to a doctor -  don't go to a doctor looking for meds, go to a doctor looking for hope . . . look for someone that prescribes hope, whether it be a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, social worker, or a doorman."

By embracing his own strengths and unique qualities, Dr. Ramirez was able to achieve recovery and find his place in the community.

"I've really learned how important my heritage is," Dr. Ramirez said. "I have met other Two Spirits that have gone through similar situations, or that are going through the similar situations, and it's important for them to realize that our culture is valuable ... We have a long standing tradition within our community; we play an important role. I am with my family whenever a child is born, whether they're my immediate family, or not. I'm there when somebody dies. I help to initiate the talking circles - That's a big honor for me. All their children are my children."

Today Dr. Ramirez is an active member of his community, connected with his family, biological and lateral, and serves on the board of NAMI San Fernando Valley as Vice President, helps organize NAMI Walks for San Fernando Valley, and currently holds the honor of serving as Ambassador for the Special Olympics this year in Los Angeles.

"By getting help," Dr. Ramirez said, "you're showing that you are committed to your community, you're committed to your future, you're not giving up on yourself and you're not giving up on them."

Affiliates at Work for Minority Mental Health Awareness:

NAMI Urban Los Angeles

In celebration of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, NAMI Urban Los Angeles (NUMA) is partnering with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. to honor Sandy Banks, Jackie Lacey, and Nolan Rollins for their work in the community, on July 18th, 2015, at NUMA's annual luncheon commemorating the life and work of the late Bebe Moore Campbell.

Bebe Moore Campbell dedicated her life to eliminate mental health stigma in underserved communities through her work as a journalist, author and co-founder of NUMA. NUMA will be utilizing this fundraiser luncheon to help continue their work providing mental health education and facilitating dialogue to dispel the stigma of mental illness in local minority communities.

The luncheon will take place in the covered gardens of Bebe Moore Campbell, and is hosted by her husband, Ellis Gordon, Jr, and features entertainment by R&B Group the 7th Avenue Band. For more information or tickets, visit www.namiurbanla.org online, or call 323-294-7814.

You have the opportunity to vote for our new Board Members.   Please visit this page to see their statements and backgrounds for serving on the Board:  Click Here to Learn More!  

Get familiar with them so you can help shape our work for NAMI California's future and make your vote count.  Voting will begin soon.