NAMI
New Orleans
News
NEW ORLEANS’ VOICE ON MENTAL ILLNESS
Visit our website at: www.namineworleans.org
SPECIAL
POINTS OF
INTEREST:
NAMIWalks 2015 Raises $142,000!
Thank you so much to our
Premiere Sponsor WWL-TV Channel 4,
our Presenting Sponsors, Audubon
Nature Institute and Louisiana
Healthcare Connections, our Honorary
Co-Chairs Angela Hill and Dr. Jeffrey
Rouse, our many other generous
sponsors, NAMI affiliates who walked
with us, our donors, performers,
members, volunteers, team captains,
walkers, staff and NAMI New Orleans’
Board of Directors. You helped make
our 6th annual NAMIWalks a success!
We couldn’t have done it without you.
The money raised will be put to
immediate use providing our many
no-cost programs right here in the
Greater New Orleans area. Please make
sure to save the date for our next
NAMIWalks: Oct. 15, 2016.
NAMIWALKS 2015
Thank you to everyone
who made it a success!
GREATER NEW
ORLEANS
FOUNDATION
IMPACT 2015
MENTAL HEALTH
FIRST AID
TRAINING
TIPS TO REDUCE
HOLIDAY STRESS
ONGOING
SUPPORT GROUPS
For family members, peers
and survivors of loss due
to suicide
GIVE THE GIFT
OF HOPE
NAMI NEW
ORLEANS
PRESENTS TO LAW
ENFORMENT
NAMI NEW
ORLEANS SHOE
DRIVE
ANNUAL REPORT
2014-2015
WINTER 2015
NAMI New Orleans
selected for
IMPACT 2015 Grant
We’re very excited to have been
selected by the Greater New Orleans
Foundation as an IMPACT grantee for
2015. The $20,000 grant will support
the new NAMI New Orleans Mental
Healthcare Navigation Team (MHNT).
NAMI New Orleans receives over 1,000
calls and emails from individuals and
families each year seeking support,
services, or information. The NAMI
New Orleans MHNT will provide a
streamlined connection to information
and services provided by NAMI New
Orleans and other community partners.
MHNT staff and volunteers will
provide compassionate and caring
assistance telephonically and in-person.
Contact NAMI New Orleans at 505-896
-2345 to learn more about the MHNT.
Mental Health First Aid Training
Available in 2016, NAMI New Orleans will
offer Mental Health First Aid Training to
community members. Mental Health First Aid
(MHAF) is an 8-hour course dedicated to
training and educating lay persons and
professionals on how to identify the signs and
symptoms of a person experiencing a mental
health condition such as depression, anxiety,
or suicide. Participants of the training will
learn how to help someone experiencing a
mental health crisis. If you or your
organization would like to learn more about
the Mental Health First Aid Training, please
contact Lisa at 504-896-2345 for more
information.
Coping with Holiday Stress and the Holiday Blues
The Holidays can be a stressful time for many people, including adults living with
mental illness. A recent NAMI study found that 64% of people living with a mental
illness report that the holidays make their symptoms worse. Here are some tips for
coping and staying healthy this year:







Stick to normal routines as much as possible and get enough sleep.
Take time for yourself, but don’t isolate yourself. Spend time with
supporting, caring people.
Eat and drink in moderation. Don’t drink alcohol if you are feeling down.
Get exercise—even if it’s only taking a short walk.
Make a to-do list. Keep things simple. Set a budget for holiday activities.
Set reasonable expectations and goals for holiday activities such as
shopping, cooking, entertaining, attending parties or sending holiday cards.
Listen to music or find other ways
to relax.
From all of the staff, volunteers and the
Board of Directors at NAMI New
Orleans, we wish you a safe and
happy holiday season!
Our next Peer-to-Peer class starts
Wednesday, December 9th, at 9:30 a.m. at
the NAMI New Orleans Uptown Friendship
Club. It is a free, 10-session course for
adults living with mental health challenges.
It provides an educational setting focused
on recovery that offers respect,
understanding, encouragement, and hope.
Contact Shannon at 504-896-2345 or
[email protected] for
more information or to register.
ONGOING SUPPORT
GROUPS
FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS
A monthly support group for loved ones
of people living with mental illness.
It is offered at four locations:
 Every second Monday from
Give the Gift of Hope
During this Holiday season, you can
help NAMI New Orleans offer hope,
help, and healing to our community.
Renew your membership by
donating $100 and you’ll receive a
set of our Limited Edition Holiday
Notecards. Each set of 5 notecards
were designed and created by NAMI
New Orleans Clients. A dditional
styles available.
Fill out the form on the back of the
newsletter or contact Meghan at
[email protected] or
504-896-2345.
Donate Your Shoe Soles To
NAMI New Orleans!
NAMI New Orleans Volunteers
Give Presentations to Local
Law Enforcement
We have been proud to take part in the
weeklong Crisis Intervention Trainings
(CIT) for NOPD and JPSO. During NAMI
In Our Own Voice, two people living in
recovery share their stories: dark days to
acceptance and treatment to successes,
hopes, and dreams. Here is what some
participants have said about
In Our Own Voice:
“The presentation gave me better
perspective about what people are
going through.”
5:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m. at Sojourner Truth
Neighborhood Center, 2200 Lafitte St.
in New Orleans.
 Every first Wednesday from
6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at 1538 Louisiana
Ave. in New Orleans.
 Every third Tuesday from
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at 2051 8th St.
in Harvey.
 Every fourth Thursday from
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Congregation
Beth Israel, 4004 West Esplanade
Ave. in Metairie. SCHEDULE CHANGE
to every third Thursday for November
and December.
NAMI CONNECTION
RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUPS
“I learned never to ignore the
possibility that an individual may
suffer from a mental illness.”
A weekly peer-led recovery support
group. Anyone living with mental illness
is welcome to attend.
“I’ll change the way I deal with/talk to
those with mental illness.”
It is offered at two locations:
“This whole program (CIT) has changed
my approach to people with mental
health issues.”
Contact Shannon at 504-896-2345 or
[email protected] to bring
this presentation to your organization!
Drop-off your gently used or new footwear at NAMI
New Orleans from now until December 31st!
For each pound collected, NAMI New Orleans will receive $0.40!
Help us reach our goal of 300 bags of shoes!
The shoes are sent to developing nations to provide footwear for impoverished individuals.
Please contact Meghan at 504-896-2345 or [email protected]
for more information!
 Thursdays 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at
1538 Louisiana Ave. in New Orleans.
 Fridays 10:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. at
2051 8th St. in Harvey.
SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE LOSS
SUPPORT GROUP
Survivors of Suicide Loss is a free, peer-led
support group for adults whose lives have
been impacted by the loss of a loved one to
suicide, whether recently or in the past. The
group meets from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on
the second and fourth Wednesdays of each
month. Meetings are held at 1538 Louisiana
Ave. in New Orleans.
Please contact the volunteer facilitators
before attending your first group at
[email protected]
or 504-410-7025.
Annual Report Summary for NAMI New Orleans Fiscal Year 2014 - 2015
Since 1978, NAMI New Orleans has been dedicated to improving the lives of the 1 in 5 adults, adolescents, and
children affected by mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and anxiety
disorders. It is our hope that this summary annual report to our stakeholders, funders, family members and
persons living with mental illness will provide you with valuable information regarding the array of programs,
supports and services provided by NAMI New Orleans. While funding and access to care for mental health
services continues to be a challenge, NAMI New Orleans pledges to continue its mission of providing education, advocacy, support and services for the Greater New Orleans community. Over 4,000 persons with mental
illness and their families received support, services, education, information, or referral last year. More than
1,000 individuals participated in our annual NAMIWalk with honorary Co-Chairs Angela Hill and New Orleans
Coroner Dr. Jeffrey Rouse on October 24, 2015. Information is also presented on primary funding sources, as
well as rates of inpatient hospitalizations for persons served.
# of Persons
Served
Program Type
468
Case Management Programs
226
Drop-In Centers
52
Mental Health Court Diversion Program
25
Representative Payee Program
1180
Information, Referral and Health Fairs
123
Community Integration and Psychosocial Skills Training
28
Independent Living Apartment Complexes
227
One on One Sessions, Family Support and Education Programs
148
Peer Support and Education
191
NAMI New Orleans Membership
606
Community Education and Awareness Programs
1,000
Family Resource Guide Publication
4,274
Total Number Served
Program
Total #
# Hospitalized
% Remaining Out of Hospital
Community Integration and Psychosocial
Skills Training
123
13
89
Case Management
310
33
89
Total
433
46
89
Governance
The Board of Directors of NAMI New Orleans is the decision and policy-making body of the organization.
Board members are elected to serve a 3 year term on a strictly volunteer basis. There are 19 voting members
and 8 honorary members on the 2015 Board of Directors. The composition of our board is as follows: 16%
African American; 5% Hispanic; 11% under 35 years old. Members of the board are comprised of family
members of people living with mental illness (63%); professionals in fields which may affect the lives of
people living with mental illness (37%); and other individuals who have special skills and abilities needed by
the organization (58%).
Make a year-end gift today!
Membership costs $35 per year and allows you to join NAMI New Or leans, NAMI Louisiana,
and NAMI at the National level. Benefits of membership include the NAMI New Orleans Bonjour
Newsletter, the National NAMI Advocate Magazine, a copy of the NAMI New Orleans Family Guide: A
Roadmap to Resources and Support, and invitations to special events and the Annual Membership
Meeting featuring a guest speaker.
Your membership helps NAMI New Orleans continue to provide hope, help, and healing to individuals
living with mental illness - and their loved ones - right here in the Greater New Orleans region.
You can renew your membership or donate online at www.namineworleans.org (click on NA MI Donate)
or make checks payable & mail to: NAMI New Orleans ▪ 1538 Louisiana Avenue ▪ New Orleans, LA 70115
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