A new Family Support Group has been formed! Meetings will be held at Fairfax Hospital, 10200 NE 132nd Street in Kirkland on the 1st Tuesday of every month beginning June 3rd. The meeting time is 7pm – 8:30 pm. Contact Steve at (425) 761-9050 or via email at sanderson@hartleycounseling.com for more information. All family members and friends are welcome. Just a reminder that consumers may not attend a family support group and family members may not attend consumer groups. , “C.A.R.E.”, continues to meet at Crossroads Mall on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. More information is listed under “Support Groups” on this website. Another consumer group is planned for late this summer or early fall.

NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) Eastside hosts educational forums at Evergreen Hospital on the third Tuesday of each month. Our April 15, 2008 program will feature Seth Dawson, former Snohomish County prosecuting attorney, and now Human Services Contract Lobbyist for Washington State. Mr. Dawson will summarize the mental health legislation and budgetary provisions enacted by the 2008 Washington State Legislature. Please join us 7pm – 9pm, Suite Tan 100 at Evergreen Hospital, 12303 NE 130th Lane in Kirkland. Future forum topics include Schizophrenia, Sleep Disorders, and Housing among others. Please contact the NAMI Eastside office for more information at (425) 885-NAMI (6264) or via email at info@nami-eastside.org. All programs are FREE and open to the public.

Survivors of Suicide (SOS) Announces the 2008 Out of the Darkness Overnight Event Seattle, June 21-22, 2008 Plan now to be a part of this first-ever Seattle Out of the Darkness Suicide Awareness Walk. Not a walker? Join us as a crew member!

The walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. To join the Auburn-Olympia-Tacoma SOS Team, go to www.theovernight.org , click on ‘register online’ and follow the prompts, or call 888-TheOvernight (888-843-6837) for assistance in registering. By walking you help support the following: Research to improve the understanding of biological, genetic and psychosocial factors that contribute to suicide.

Suicide prevention on college campuses through the dissemination of an educational film, The Truth about Suicide: Real Stories of Depression in College National Survivors of Suicide Day conferences which inform, and empower families and friends bereaved by suicide. Creation of new survivor support groups and strengthening of existing groups through training. Local suicide prevention programs.

The Mental Health Transformation Project presents training on Mental Health Recovery & Resiliency People with mental illnesses can and do recover. This workshop covers the 11 recovery components outlined in the SAMHSA consensus statement and shows you how to assist in the recovery efforts of mentally ill people in your community. Your trainers are Mary Jadwisiak and Nancy Dow Witherbee. This is there is no cost to you and lunch is provided. Registration is required. It is being held on June 25, 2008 from 9:00 - 4:00 at Palouse River Counseling, 340 NE Maple Street, Pullman, WA 99160. To register please call (509) 334-6873. It is also available on June 26, 2008 from 9:00 – 4:00 at Eastern State Hospital, 805 W. Maple Street, Activities Building, Conference Room C, Medical Lake, WA, 99022. To register call (509) 299-4520.

The Depression Support Group has been cancelled due to a lack of attendance.

Drama group is forming Group is forming at Seattle Center Community College at 1:30 on thursdays, beginning on October 18th Room 4135.  People who are interested  in learning to do drama are invited. It is sponsored by Circle of Friends for Mental Health.  There is no charge for our classes.  Let Carolyn know 206 325.6386 or hale700@hotmail.com if you plan to come, please. See our flyer for more information.

"The freedom to be wandering the streets, psychotic, ill, deteriorating, and untreated, when there is a reasonable prospect of effective treatment, is not freedom; it is abandonment."

ACLU Handbook on the rights of People with Mental Disabilities.
Circle of Friends for Mental Health link is http://www.cofmentalhealth.org