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Simitian and County Supervisors support NAMI’S community mental health efforts

SAN JOSE – Committed to improving mental wellness and ensuring people with mental health conditions receive the support care they need, Santa Clara County is supporting National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Santa Clara County’s Community Peer Program, a peer mentorship program for people living with a mental health condition.

“When someone with a mental health condition seeks treatment, it can often be a time of loneliness and uncertainty,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, who proposed County funding for the Community Peer Program. “NAMI’s program helps put people seeking mental wellness at ease by matching them with a peer who has been in a similar situation – someone who can provide encouragement and support in a unique way.”

NAMI’s Community Peer Program matches people with a mental health condition who want to develop good coping strategies and live independently with a mentor who has walked in their shoes and can provide support around learning and practicing coping skills and self-care. Participants establish a relationship with a mentor for up to four months through phone conversations for 15 to 30 minutes twice a week and in-person meetings one to three hours a week.

While they are not counselors or therapists, peer mentors help participants establish goals, recommend resources that may be of assistance, suggest opportunities for social engagement, encourage self-advocacy with the participant’s providers, and outline potential areas for lifestyle adjustments.

A participant of the Community Peer Program shared: “When I began this program, I had just been discharged from the hospital. I was isolating and had lost my ability/skills to socialize. I was a bit anti-social. This program helped me by giving me a routine and connection with a mentor with whom I could practice interpersonal skills. Over time, I gained more confidence through the resources provided to me by my mentor. These resources helped me to accept my diagnosis and helped my husband understand my diagnosis. My mentor also guided me through role-play on how I can talk about my illness with others by talking about the ways I am caring for myself. In addition, I learned to be more realistic in setting my goals by setting small SMART goals that were achievable.” (S.M.A.R.T goals is a popular goal setting tool, the principles of which are: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timebound). 

NAMI Santa Clara County’s Community Peer Program is free of charge and participants can self-refer, allowing low-income community members and families to access the support they need. Community members can call 408-453-0400 x3000 or email [email protected] to learn more about the program.