Hi Sacramentans - I'd like to share about the NAMI walk. Always held on the first Saturday in May, it has been occurring for 6 or 7 years. I have been walking or leading a team the last 3. NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness. They are nationwide, and we do have a chapter in Sacramento. It is the same as many 5K walks these days - fundraising for their cause.
Mental illness (or mental health conditions) reach across all boundaries - economic, age, gender, race. 1 in 4 people are affected by mental health conditions, and NAMI is a partner in helping those who need it - both those with lived experience, and their loved ones. They provide classes, support groups and other services and resources.
Darrell Steinberg and Patrick Kennedy have both been active in this effort, and have spoken, or have had their representatives speak, at the walk site each year.
A great deal of trauma is a reaction to mental health conditions that go undiagnosed, and those with mental health conditions have a difficult time finding resilience, so I can easily see a correlation between our cause and that of NAMI Sacramento. I am wondering if any folks might consider building a team for the walk next year. I would personally like to lead it, but I am building a school, so I am hoping there is also a leader out there as well. I would be happy to meet with anyone and give details about what is entailed.
Thanks for considering,
Janice Oliver-Iraci
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