On this page: Support Group | Program Meetings | FEST | Family Day | Crisis Relief Training | Our Office ] [ www.preventmentalillness.org]

Support Groups

NAMI WC offers a support group for relatives (both family and friends) of persons with mental illness. We also have a group for parents of children and adolescents who have a mental illness. Community members who attend will find a safe, confidential environment where they can voice their concerns and learn from others. The sessions are facilitated by knowledgeable NAMI members who bring a great deal of experience with mental illness to the group. Our support groups are free!

When do they meet? Where?

Family/Friends:  4th Wed of the month, except meets the 3rd Wednesday in Nov and Dec.

Want more info?  Call Chuck Hughes at (734) 426-5336

When and where?

7:30pm
St. Clare’s Episcopal Church/ Temple Beth Emeth
2309 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48104

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Individuals with mental illness:  4th Wed of month, except meets the 3rd Wednesday in Nov & Dec.

When and where?

Same time and place as general support group above

Want more info?  Call Karen Holman at (734) 485-3040

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If you have a child/adolescent with a mental illness, this group is for you! (2nd Thursday of the month)

When and Where?

7:00pm

NEW Center, 1100 N. Main St., Ann Arbor

Call the office at 994-6611 for more information.

Click here for more local resources.

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Program Meetings

One of the mainstays of our affiliate is its monthly (free!) public education meeting. We select a speaker or a panel to address an issue that is pertinent to the community (with a focus on mental illness, of course).

What have we done in the past? Speakers talked about…

• CAM -Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Mental Health
• Special Needs Planning for SSI, SSDI, Medicare and Medicaid
• Problem-Solving using the McFarlane Method
• Michigan Prevents Prodromal Progression (M3P)
• Prisoner Creative Arts Program
• Schizophrenia:  Choices in Recovery
• Dual diagnosis (mental illness plus co-occurring substance abuse)
• Update on new psychiatric medications
• Anti-Stigma Initative
• Navigating the mental health system
• Advocating for insurance parity
• Personal stories (including presentations by consumers with first-hand knowledge of the devastating effects of mental illness and the road to recovery)

And many others…

.When do we meet?

Second Monday of every month, 7:30pm

(NOTE:  no public education meetings June, July, August or December)
NEW Center,  1100 N. Main St. Ann Arbor

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FEST (Family Education, Support and Training)

In a unique collaboration, our NAMI affiliate partners with the University of Michigan and Community Support and Treatment Services (CSTS), the local Community Mental Health agency, to offer a family education course. FEST is a 12-week program that helps family members with an ill loved-one by offering:

• Information about brain disorders
• A supportive environment to learn and grow
• Tools for family members to deal effectively with mental illness
• Some call this class :  Mental Health 101

Please call early to reserve your spot for the Fall, 2010 FEST Program at                         (734) 994- 6611.  To learn more, go to our FEST page.

Past participants have found that this course teaches them the basics about mental illness and treatments, connects them to community resources, and teaches them important skills and coping techniques for their often difficult journey. FEST is available in the fall and winter of each year.

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Family Day 2009

Last year's Family Day was held on Saturday, October 31 at Bethlehem United Church of Christ, 423 S. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor.

Once a year our affiliate puts together a day of speakers, workshops, and information designed to educate and empower the community. Attendance is not restricted to family members but is open to all interested persons affected by mental illness. And it’s free!

Last year's annual Family Day had an excellent turnout with those participating hearing a very relevant keynote address and having a choice among several informative workhops. The generosity of our facitiators, who donated their time and expertise, made this day of learning, encouragement, and sharing possible.
Our keynote speaker was Wally Prechter, president and founder of the Heinz C. Prechter Biplar Research Fund. In her address, Mrs. Prechter spoke about her personal experience dealing with her husband's illness and suicide. She also explained the foundation she established in his name and the research taking place into the causes and cures for bipolar illness. The eight workhops covered topics such as navigating through the social security system, current trends in brain research, a panel of persons suffering from mental illness who discussed their recoveries, and a hands on art project. Our eleven resource tables provided participants with information about their organizations and how they can be of service to persons with a mental illness and their families.
Some of our very positive feedback from the day included comments such as I appreciated: "the diversity of stories and people who presented," “learning what's available in the counties/areas-networking," “excellent content, very informative on current research fields," "being surrounded by such positivity," and “candidness that the presenter had.”

We look forward to planning for next year's Family Day, which will be held in the fall of 2010, and we welcome your suggestions and participation. If you would like to volunteer to help with the planning, feel free to call the NAMI office at 994-6611.

A New Location for Family Day 2010

The Family Day Planning Commitee is very excited about the new location for our next Family Day on November 13, 2010.  We will be having this annual NAMI WC event at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1400 W. Stadium, in Ann Arbor. The church is located between Pauline and Seventh. There is an AATA bus stop right across the street and there will be ample parking int he church lot. Look for more information on our website and in the spring, September and October newsleltters

In the past some of our keynote speakers have included:

• Lynn Rivers (former congresswoman)
• Dr. Fred Frese (professional and consumer)
• State Senator, Liz Brater (former Ann Arbor mayor)
• Kurt and Reimar Scholler (local NAMI members)
• Dr Amador Xavier, author of "I am not Sick, I don't need Help!"
• Bill Feiser and Jill Crabtree on depression
• Eric Hipple, former Detroit Lions quarterback...
• Marilyn Wedenoja (professor of social work and director of grad. soc. work EMU
• Kenneth Silk, MD, Professor in UM Medical School in the Department of Psychiatry
• Project Outreach Team (PORT)
• Sherri Solomon, Executive Director, NAMI Michigan
• Wally Prechter, president and founder of the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Fund

In addition, to many excellent workshops, Family Day offers a complimentary continental breakfast and free hot lunch with food donated by many local businesses.

For a brochure you can print and use to register, please click here.

Call the office to register (994-6611). Registration is not required but is appreciated.

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Crisis Intervention Training (CIT)

Some of our organization’s members helped bring a special project to life here (first started in Memphis, Tennessee): a training of the Ann Arbor Police Department (AAPD) which helps officers recognize possible mental illness and deal compassionately with this vulnerable segment of the community, getting them to the appropriate treatment. Through grassroots efforts this program has become an effective part of Washtenaw County’s (specifically, Ann Arbor’s) services.

Help the Crisis Relief Task Force!!

Get in touch with Carolyn Moehrle to find out about volunteer possibilities in this effort.  Please call her at (734) 663-9498 for more information.

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Our Office

Where can you go to learn more about mental illness? Our office is a good place to start. We carry:

• Brochures and pamphlets (about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and many other mental disorders)
• Books (for ex., E. Fuller Torrey’s "Surviving Schizophrenia")
• Videos
• Current and past copies of our newsletter

If you call us, our office manager can help answer some of your questions, or direct you to people and agencies that can.

We welcome visitors whether in person or by phone.  Come by and see what we are about.

Michigan Prevents Prodromal Progression (M3P)- www.preventmentalillness.org:

The Portland Identification and Early Referral Program (PIER) provides confidential assessment and early assistance for young people between the ages of 12 and 25 who are at risk for mental illnesses. Please click on the link at the top of the page for more information.

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