Chelan-Douglas Regional Support Network/
Prepaid Health Plan

You Are Not Alone:
Finding Help for People with Mental
Illnesses and Their Families

Introduction
When people are diagnosed with serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, finding appropriate medical and psychiatric care is the first priority.  But once such treatment begins, they and their families soon discover that the illness affects many aspects of their lives and they need more than medical help.

These pages describe the kinds of non-medical services that are available in many communities for people with severe and persistent mental illnesses and their families.

No single, coordinated system of services currently exists across the country.  When someone has a serious mental illness, his or her family often has to assume responsibility for managing the person's comprehensive care.  Although the service system is fragmented, support groups of other families and people with mental illnesses (often called consumers) who have faced the same challenge exist in every state.

If you or someone you love has a serious mental illness, the information in these pages can help you find and evaluate the services in your community, find others who are asking the same questions you are, and perhaps join those across the country who are working to create more coordinated and comprehensive services for those with mental illnesses in every community.

What is NAMI?
NAMI (the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) is the national umbrella organization for more than 1,200 local support and advocacy groups for families and individuals affected by serious mental illnesses.  To learn more about your local group, contact your state's NAMI, write to NAMI, Colonial Place Three, 2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22201-3042 or call the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) for contact information.

NAMI Chelan-Douglas
Meeting - 3rd Tuesday each month
1045 Springwater - downstairs
509-663-8282

Crisis Line - 509-662-7105 or 1-800-852-2923

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