NAMI Marion County E-Newsletter
Volume 1 Issue 8 September 2018
NAMI Marion County, P.O. Box 5753, Ocala, Florida 34478-5753
(352) 368-2405 www.namiocala.org
NAMI Marion County is ensuring that all Marion County residents have access to mental health services....here's how...
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Starting this month:
Mental Wellness Now: Help & Hope
The mental wellness screenings are starting the third week of September - here's the schedule:
Monday, September 17…………………… Reddick Public Library
15150 NW Gainesville Road, Reddick 32686   
Tuesday, September 18……………………Ft. McCoy Public Library
14550 NE Highway 315, Ft. McCoy 32134      
Wednesday, September 19……………… Belleview Public Library
13145 SE Highway 484, Belleview 34420
Thursday, September 20…………………. Forest Public Library
905 S. Highway 314A, Ocklawaha 32179        
Friday, September 21………,……………. Dunnellon Public Library
         20351 Robinson Road, Dunnellon 34431       
People who score high on the screenings will be able to talk to a Meridian Behavioral Health counselor at no charge on the same day via telehealth. This will particularly help people with transportation issues or who think there may be a mental health issue but put off getting it checked.

Help us by volunteering to help at these screenings!
Partners
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NAMI MARION COUNTY APPRECIATES THE SUPPORT OF:
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"There isn't anybody out there who doesn't have a mental health issue, whether it's depression, anxiety, or how to cope with relationships. Having OCD is not an embarrassment anymore - for me. Just know that there is help and your life could be better if you go out and seek the help." (Howie Mandel)
NAMI FaithNet!
People with problems often turn to their church for help. NAMI Marion County, through its FaithNet Program, seeks to work with places of worship to help people with mental health challenges. NAMI FaithNet strives to encourage welcoming, caring congregations as well as to promote the vital role of spirituality in the recovery journeys of many who live with mental health conditions, those for whom faith is a key component.
The next time you're at a service, ask yourself h ow many families around you have a loved one who struggles with a serious, acute or chronic mental health issue? The answer would be one in four, if the congregation is representative of the population of the United States.

We need volunteers to help us accomplish our FaithNet goals! Help us contact places of worship to tell them about FaithNet and discuss the ways NAMI Marion County can help.

Do you have a religious leader
to whom you would like
us to speak?

For more information, go to:
https://www.nami.org/NAMIFaithnet
NAMI MARION COUNTY - OUT AND ABOUT!


We want to be sure everyone knows all of the services and benefits of NAMI - so we make sure we're out in the community explaining to people how we live our mission to "help people affected by mental illness." In August, we had speakers at the Medical Health Center Healthy 55 group and at the Ocala Kiwanis Club. We also participated in a Military Veterans Summit & Carnival at the Southeast Livestock Pavilion where we "tattooed" children (removable, of course). Special thanks to Dottie Conway Comeau, Luis Isaza, Carolyn Weldon (tattoo artist shown) and Regina Lewis (Circuit 5 Diversion Courts) who helped. We were also at the Mental Health Fair held at St. Leo's University. We enjoy getting out and telling people all about how great we are and we hope you think so too! We need volunteers to help us at outreach events.


  • Donate money
  • Donate a brick
  • Donate a slab
  • Donate a bench
  • Donate a car
  • Donate a building
Help us help our community today!
In addition to donating funds to help us continue our services and programs, there are several other ways you can donate to NAMI. You can donate in memoriam to someone dear to you. * A brick (shown below) can be embossed with the wording of your choice and placed at The Centers. * A Granite Recognition slab (shown left) can include a logo or artwork making this a special way to show your support. * Memorial benches (as below) are available with a brass plaque for your special engraving requests. Ask for more information and pricing or visit our website at www.namiocala.org (click on Donate).
Facebook user? You'll like all of the great information on our Facebook page... NAMI Marion County. Visit our page and "like" us today!
Visit our website! We have been making many changes to make it more informative and dynamic. Check it out! www.namiocala.org
NAMI Marion County has a warmline to provide information and resources for people affected by mental illness? Just call (352) 368-2405 and leave a message and someone will return your call. This is not a hotline - no crises please!
BECOME A NAMI MARION VOLUNTEER!









NAMI Marion County is excited about all of the new and existing programs we are able to offer to our members. We can't do it alone. We need your support by volunteering to help us with the programs.

On our website www.namiocala.org, you will find a listing of volunteer opportunities as well as a volunteer application. Please review the information and submit an application. Together we can make an impact on mental health in Marion County, our state and our country.

Want to be a "friend" at The Vines and/or The Centers?

People are often confused and concerned when they arrive at The Vines or The Centers. You can be a smiling face and help NAMI Marion County inform patients and their families about NAMI membership, advocacy, support groups and education classes. We need people to take two-hour shifts during the week in the Outpatient Department lobbies of both hospitals. Training provided!

Ask us about NAMI IN THE LOBBY volunteer opportunities.
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BECOME A NAMI MARION COUNTY MEMBER!  Why join NAMI? People will listen. The voices of NAMI members demonstrates their commitment and strengthens the organization’s impact with local, state and national leaders and legislators to spread awareness, shape legislation and remove stigma.

Membership fees are $40 individual, $60 household, or open door membership is $5. Visit our website to keep up-to-date on NAMi services and activities, and to join, update or renew your membership at www.namiocala.org 
NAMI SUPPORT GROUPS
Support groups are free, confidential, respectful and supportive.
No registration is necessary for support groups.
 
The Connection Recovery Support Group (f or people diagnosed with a mental illness) : Meets at First United Methodist Church, 1126 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. in the Old Fellowship Hall (on the northwest side of the campus, downstairs).
 
The NAMI Family Support Groups (for family/friends of people diagnosed with a mental illness):

1) Meets every first and third Tuesday of the month at First United Methodist Church of Ocala, Room #30, 1126 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, at 7:00 p.m. in Building G (in the courtyard)
 
2) Meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in St. Timothy's RC Church Hall, Room #7, 1351 Paige Place, Lady Lake.

Coming Soon!
Family-to-Family Education Class. Education for families of loved ones who are affected by mental illness. Registration is required. For more information, contact us at www.namiocala.org
Graduation time for Peer-to-Peer Education Class
On August 14th we celebrated the most recent graduating class of the Peer-to-Peer Education Class. This is a free 8-session educational program for adults with mental illness who are looking to better understand their condition and journey toward recovery. Another class will be scheduled soon. If you're interested in joining the class, please send an e-mail to info@namiocala.org
Help for families of Military Veterans:
NAMI Homefront

NAMI Homefront is a free, online six-session class for NAMI members who are family, friends and significant others of Military Service Members and Veterans. It helps families comprehend what the Military Service Member/Veteran is experiencing to enable them to help.

USE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO REGISTER*
  *All participants are screened to ensure this class is appropriate for their needs.
Join us at Tuscawilla Park on September 8th from 10 am to 2 pm as we celebrate September (which is Recovery Month) with the Ocala Recovery Fest. NAMI Marion County will have a booth there with lots of information, plus one of our members will be speaking about his path to recovery. There will be a full program with food and entertainment - plus a tree will be planted in memory of those who did not make it through to recovery.