We are excited to share NAMI California’s Year 2 (2018-2019) Annual State of the Community Reports (ASOCR) on Diverse Communities & Families.
These reports highlight the demographics, and unique barriers, needs, and recommendations while accessing the mental health care system of California’s families and diverse communities (Latinos/Hispanics, Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islanders, African Americans/Blacks, Native American/American Indians, TAY, and LGBTQI). For our work on this, we continued to seek a better understanding of the unique needs of each stakeholder group and we dived deeper into the implications of findings throughout NAMI CA programming, advocacy, and community engagement.
Diverse Community-Informed Recommendations
To reach underrepresented individuals affected by mental illness, we need more:
- stigma reduction
- promotion of education on mental illness
- efforts to incorporate prevention and early interventions programs and models
- funding for culturally appropriate outreach and services
- efforts to engage diverse communities in advocacy efforts for structural change
Read the summary of our report on diverse communities.
Family-Informed Recommendations
To address the needs of family members and loved ones supporting individuals with
mental illness, we need to:
- enhance access to treatment in a timely manner
- advocate and promote the availability of housing options
- support the progress of crisis services
- improve the criminal justice and forensic system during the treatment of all people
with mental illnesses - advocate for family involvement in treatment
- promote complete and comprehensive services for all ages are all ways
NAMI California truly appreciates the support, advocacy, and partnerships with NAMI affiliates, advisory committees, partnering organizations, and especially the community and family members whose voices were shared throughout the report. Many thanks also to the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) through the Mental Health Serves Act (MHSA).
Read the Families Report or our summary.