News

You Are Not Alone - NAMI El Paso is here to help

May 18, 2020

During this month of May, we find ourselves in the middle of an entirely new set of difficult challenges as we continue social distancing and working from home. This emphasizes not only the need for the celebration and promotion of Mental Health Month, but a time for us to reflect on how we will continue to adapt our local mental health systems into a virtual array of easy to access online services that target more residents in need of resources throughout our entire region.

Experts across the nation are sounding the alarm on the lingering impact this pandemic will continue to have on frontline workers, those who have suddenly lost their jobs, and those who are experiencing increasingly high amounts of fear and anxiety due to unexpected financial uncertainty. Mental Health Month should be a time of strategic preparation for the long-term mental health impacts of social isolation, heightened stress, and greater pressure within nearly every household.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has launched the “You Are Not Alone” campaign so that our community can come together and demonstrate that no El Pasoan should ever feel alone during these critical moments.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NAMI El Paso, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has also transitioned the majority of its interpersonal programs to be conducted virtually via Zoom and is working to expand on-line support groups throughout the region in conjunction with NAMI Texas.

NAMI programs offer an insight to those living with mental conditions; provide important support through classes with other peers, and education for loved ones.

Information on upcoming NAMI programs and additional resources to help cope during this time can be found at www.namiep.org.