NAMI - BLUE RIDGE FAMILY ALLIANCE

Who We Are

You are not alone. We can help one another.

We are a local affiliate of National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), a grass-roots organization for families and friends of persons who are suffering from severe and chronic mental illness.

Chronic mental illnesses include the schizophrenias and also affective disorders, such as depression, manic depression (bipolar disorder), and other severe disorders.

NAMI-Blue Ridge Family Alliance welcomes all concerned family members and friends who want to learn more about mental illness.

NAMI - BRFA works to promote and provide

Support and Advocacy

· meets twice a month

· offers mutual encouragement

· provides a sharing of problems and coping strategies

· helps to overcome feelings of isolation, guilt, and frustration

· advocates for greater funding for research on serious mental illnesses and for increased community-based care

Knowledge

· learn about causes of mental illness

· recognize acute and chronic symptoms

· be informed about current treatments

Education of the Public

· dispels myths and fears

· overcomes stigmas

· opens doors and opportunities for mentally ill people

We also provide information regarding local services

· crisis intervention

· housing

· rehabilitation

· supportive professionals

Joining at the local level automatically makes you a NAMI member at the local, state, and national levels. Membership benefits include subscriptions to newsletters from NAMI - Blue Ridge Family Alliance, NAMI Virginia, and NAMI. Members also have access to the toll-free state and national HelpLines.

Support group meetings of NAMI Blue Ridge Family Alliance are held on the first Thursday of the month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Speaker meetings are held at various times and places. Meetings are free and visitors are welcome. Support group meetings and many speaker meetings are held in the Board Room of the new Region Ten location at 505 Old Lynchburg Rd. For directions and details on speaker meetings, see Meetings.

If you wish

· more information

· a complimentary newsletter

· contact with a fellow member

· membership information

Call or email

NAMI-Blue Ridge Family Alliance
Voice mail: (434) 970-1257

E-mail: srinehart0945@comcast.net

NAMI Virginia
(804) 225-8264 or (888) 486-8264

mailto:vaami@aol.com