Category: What’s New

Dr. Vedantham’s interest and work in how trauma affects the brain will be his main focus,  but he will also address issues around Attention Deficit Disorder.  He has been the PTSD psychiatrist at the VA Oakland Behavioral Health Clinic since 2000, is a Clinical Associate Professor at UCSf and has a local private practice which includes serving  those with chronic serious mental illness.  His website is www.sciencewithkindness.com.

Time: Jan 28, 2026 07:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Recording can be found below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/3DrfpqRrtwR5J5C4w5dvdWac1GDfxLLDi_8T6tMflrisVnk-v7nl-UF_1G5eZI1J.n0UhHc1L5fIv1aOe Passcode: 9.0kXm.Y

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Join instructions
https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/87169527817/invitations?signature=HXsSCSg4I_ym783SwiNH8mbbjwuQl91hOZKEB9y2kME

     Wednesday, November  19, 7:30-9:00 zoom

“The world of mental illness involves so many different areas of need for family members, such as financial/legal, housing, levels of care and providers.  Join us as our friend Ryan Gardner, LCSW, and CEO/President of Peninsula Counseling and Consulting (www.peninsulacounselingandconsulting.com) takes on the ambitious role of giving us a practical overview and an understanding of options. “
    The above was the introduction to our July presentation, which is posted on our website www.namieasrbay.org under What’s New.  Ryan’s talk was so informative and helpful that it’s hard to imagine he has more to share, but we’re  thrilled to announce Part B as our November 19 educational event.  (Because of the holiday, we’re moving our November and December presentations to the 3rd rather than 4th Wednesdays).  
    Some of the topics to be covered  will include local nonprofits, fiduciaries, representative payees, MediCal, MediCare, Enhanced Case Management, conservatorships, power of attorney etc.  Again, Ryan know the territory backwards and forwards and we’re so grateful that he’ll share his expertise.  Zoom link below:

Zoom Meeting Recording can be found: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/q-HGAxy46epe-g3KgIIibjwrcYexxDrGufMmOlVXjmJmkm9GxmXe5gmrAHM-4fAY.RSxJyRoM1DgYUqWB

Passcode: h8Vi!qYw

Speaker Notes can be found below.

Join us for an important overview of the world of psychopharmacology from a professional whose perspective and expertise have been praised as informative and accessible.   MacKenzie Stuart (she/they) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with adults, couples, partners, and families. She is a member of core faculty at The Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA and leads a group psychotherapy practice in Alameda, CA. She has lived experiences of mental health challenges and loves connecting with the peer community and their loved ones. MacKenzie is a doctoral student in counselor education and supervision at Palo Alto University.  There will be time built-in for Q and A.

Zoom Meeting Recording
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/xU84BHoPE9Y2bIrbkCePevj5W_Q7v1ls8Yd9XVBnJy85KOx7vLP4rKSljiY7RJ3I.KdowS18RxY8_ghBT

Passcode: ?@hkm0N2

Speaker Notes

September 24, 7:30-9:00 – Zoom

Our 4th Wednesday educational speaker on zoom will be Stephen Hinshaw, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley.  He will talk on Progress in Mental Health: Fighting Stigma, New Models and the Need for Communication.   He will expand on the changes in the field over the last several decades–neurodiversity, blending biology and context, more equality in doctor/patient communication, etc. etc.  Link is below

   To recount his biography would take multiple pages.  In short, at UC Berkeley he was Department Chair  2004-2011, Director of Clinical Training, and  Professor in Residence at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral sciences at UC San Francisco/UCSF Weil Institute for Neurosciences.  He also wrote “Another Kind of Madness: A Journey through the Stigma and Hope of Mental Illness” which was  a Best Book Winner as an Autobiography/Memoir in the American Book Fest.

Recording of the Zoom Meeting can be found here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/SffTmc0nhQOS6QvSoj1MnS8Cy18gYwHCqnA0S9usMROljQ4OU2BA5apjrxVOXxsm.PX8HExq8GIB6Na7y Passcode: 51^B@6Y#

Speaker Notes can be found below.

Zoom link below.

Life is hard these days.  Our NAMI families are loving, grieving,  and coping with relatives who have mental illness, all within the context of a world in various kinds of chaos and upset.  So we’re going to host a 90 minute session of sharing about  what makes us smile or grin or chuckle…anything that brings the stress level down and is a distraction.  There will be no “formal” presentation, just an opportunity to listen to and/or share what and where we find small bits of fun.  Participation is open to all so feel free to invite non-NAMI folks to join- we all need to put some time into taking care of ourselves.  And bring paper and pencil to jot down some new ideas.

Meeting ID: 817 6402 5473

Watch the recording here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/DiJ9FbE5ML3H0rjLCuqlQfBu5g70ikA-cxZAouP83Qy4Co7Btpv-_xeDUuepU_6r.Tj9BYx1VvJLvLxGo Passcode: tzA0Wi^1

Wednesday, July 13, 7:30-9:00 – zoom link below

The world of mental illness involves so many different areas of need for family members, such as financial/legal, housing, levels of care and providers.  Join us as our friend Ryan Gardner, LCSW, and CEO/President of Peninsula Counseling and Consulting (www.peninsulacounselingandconsulting.com) takes on the ambitious role of giving us a practical overview and an understanding of options. 

    He will cover Housing (independent, room and board, board and care, assisted living), Financial and Legal (estate planning, special needs trust, living will, benefits), Levels of Care (outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, crisis stabilization, acute inpatient, locked facilities) and Providers (therapists, case managers, psychiatric prescribers, assertive community treatment teams, full service partnerships).

     This is a full agenda – crucial for newcomers to this world and a useful revisit  for those who are already ensconced in it. 

Zoom Meeting Recording at the link, Speaker Notes down below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/RS7gosko_o2msrtR21esjdro4jEKVqFT_B5FhnOhRUD9yO7-N3pQrpPtSSfzqUWv.3ASwMBeJe4SiTZBW Passcode: *r7cRBag

Meeting ID: 878 8716 2461

We are so pleased to present to you our friends at FERC, who will share their offerings for families across a multitude of services.  Some years ago when the Mental Health Services Act became a reality, the Mental Health Association of Alameda County, under the leadership of Steve Bischoff, NAMI affiliate leaders and county leadership put forth the notion of a comprehensive family resource, with paid staff.  

After a lot of work  negotiating the system and the funding, FERC became a reality.  And that reality includes a real office that is open daily with brochures,  books, warm line, groups and staff that is trained to help.  Our volunteer-based NAMI affiliates  cannot operate nor provide services at that level.

So take a look at their website at https://ferc.org and join us in meeting their staff and learning more about the available services.

Video recording:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/oI8xSACfINJu4U3AN8CloQTTmK_ydZfv-pK9YhuvIHCzVPs2xHf0N4bT5SauMvkB.jiaByQLJaN7beqyF

Passcode: %^9CXw0%

Speaker Notes can be found below.

Dr. Demian Rose, Psychiatrist, UCSF PATH program – Wed, May 28, zoom, 7:30-9:00 pm

Dr. Rose has been long associated with the highly-regarded PATH program at UCSF where the focus is on early recognition of and treatment interventions with early signs of psychosis in adolescents and young adults.  Among other topics,  he will be discussing how to conceptualize the use of medications over the lifespan of illness.  Bring your questions.  Dr. Rose’s email address is Demian.Rose@ucsf.edu

Video recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/80X3oGM0CD-6vsLRB7BH3MWMT7R-o15mVaOrElfVATxh03x8V4ZljgvxutOYzPwb.G-AwZIF-4Emd5PYA

Passcode: vBv=e36h

Speaker Notes down below.