NAMI Contra Costa AAPI Programs

Studies found that mental illness has become the most challenging problem for people today. According to statistics, about 60 million people in the United States each year (on average, one in five adults, and one in six children under the age of 18) suffer from mental illness to varying degrees. Mental health conditions do not discriminate based on race, color, gender or identity. Anyone can experience the challenges of mental illness regardless of their background.

NAMI Contra Costa, a charitable mental health non-profit organization, is one affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. NAMI CC provides outreach, education, support and advocacy to families and individuals in need of help. Since 1979, the organization has been serving the community through mental health advocacy, professional lectures, education classes, support groups, and other activities to achieve the following goals:

• Introduce mental health knowledge, resources, research results, etc. to everyone
• Guide people to have correct knowledge and understanding of mental illness
• Provide emotional support, information, and/or linkage to community resources to anyone in need
• Advocate for mental health and seek resources and support from the government
• Assist in the rights and interests of patients in medical treatment, housing and law information
• Help patients and family caregivers learn and master effective communication skills, coping skills and the latest medical knowledge
• Facilitate mutual support between peer to peer, family to family

Due to language barriers, cultural differences and taboos against mental illness, the Asian community has very little knowledge of mental health and the corresponding community resources. An Asian family with a member suffering from mental illness usually lives in the dark, and feels in despair. The family often feels lonely, helpless and hopeless. Strong social stigma restrains them from living a normal life or contacting other people. The mission of our AAPI department is to help all needy Asian families get rid of mental illness stigma, walk out of the dark, and find hope and helpful resources.

All of our services are free of charge.