NAMI Central Oregon

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NAMI Central Oregon

Grassroots mental health non-profit organization serving Deschutes, Crook & Jefferson Counties & Warm Springs.

NAMI stands for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Volunteer-powered, we operate on a foundation of lived experience to help others. A place to find understanding, education, resources, and friendship.

17/08/2026

🏓 Ready to rally for a good cause?

Join NAMI Central Oregon for an afternoon of pickleball, laughter, friendly competition, and community connection at our Pickleball Tournament Fundraiser!

Whether you’re a pickleball pro, a curious beginner, or someone who just wants to try something new, there’s a place for you on the court. Come play a few games, meet some great people, and help support mental health in Central Oregon.

Every ticket helps NAMI Central Oregon provide free education, support, and advocacy for individuals and families navigating mental health challenges.

NAMI Central Oregon Pickleball Tournament Fundraiser
📅 Saturday, August 29, 2026
⏰ 4:00 to 7:00 PM
📍 The Pickleball Zone | Bend, OR

🎟️ Tickets: $40 Grab yours here: https://tinyurl.com/yyuj3z95

Thank you to The PickleBall Zone for hosting us and helping us bring people together through connection, community, and mental health advocacy!

17/08/2026

We’re honoring the life and legacy of Virgie McGrath, who recently passed away after more than 24 years of dedicated service to NAMI.

Virgie was a beloved NAMI Central Oregon volunteer, program leader, and teacher who shared her lived experience, wisdom, compassion, and hope with countless parents and families navigating mental health challenges. Through NAMI Basics and Family to Family, she helped people feel less alone, more supported, and better equipped to help the people they love.

Virgie often described her NAMI service as a way of “paying it forward.” She truly lived that every day, turning her own experiences into meaningful support and education for others. While we mourn her passing, we’re especially grateful for the incredible gift of her service and the many lives she touched along the way.

Thank you, Virgie, for everything you gave to NAMI and to our community. We will carry your legacy forward. 💙

Learn more about Virgie and her 24 years of service to NAMI:
https://namicentraloregon.org/volunteer-spotlight-virgie-mcgrath/

To read more about Virgie’s life and legacy, please visit her obituary:
https://www.chicoer.com/obituaries/virginita-virgie-marie-gomes-mcgrath-la-pine-or/

17/08/2026

If you’re a family member, friend, neighbor, mentor, or another trusted adult supporting a young person through mental health challenges, we’d love to have you join us.

Respite Ready: Central Oregon is a free 2-hour community training designed to help you feel more prepared and confident in that role. We’ll talk about understanding youth mental health, responding to challenging moments, building trust and connection, and caring for yourself along the way.

There are three opportunities to join us:
Bend: Sept. 17, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Madras: Sept. 24, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Prineville: Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Choose whichever location works best for you. We hope to see you there.

Register here: bit.ly/respiteready

Brought to you by NAMI Central Oregon, Central Oregon Health Council and Central Oregon System of Care.

14/08/2026

Family support changes lives. Jim’s story is proof.

If NAMI’s free programs have touched your life, or you believe no family should face mental health challenges alone, please consider making a donation today. Your support helps keep our classes, support groups, resources, and advocacy free for families across Central Oregon.

Jim found support through NAMI when his family was facing mental health challenges. That support made such a difference that he became a volunteer to help other families walking a similar path.

Take a few minutes to watch Jim’s story, and help us make sure that support is here for the next family who needs it.

Donate today: https://tinyurl.com/namicentralorg

14/08/2026

When Devon started working toward bringing NAMI Hearts & Minds to Central Oregon, it came from a belief that mental health recovery isn’t just about surviving hard moments—it’s about learning how to care for ourselves, reconnect with our bodies, and build lives where we can truly thrive.

That's why we're so happy to share that our first-ever NAMI Hearts & Minds Class begins September 16th!

Read the story behind why we’re bringing this program to our community and register here: https://namicentraloregon.org/getting-to-the-heart-of-mental-wellness/

Too often, mental health and physical health are discussed separately, even though they are deeply connected. Our sleep, movement, nutrition, stress, relationships, and daily routines all play a role in our overall wellness.

NAMI Hearts & Minds is a reminder that caring for ourselves is not a luxury. It’s an important part of our mental health journey.

📅 Wednesdays, September 16–October 14, 2026
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Natural Grocers Community Room, Bend
💚 This FREE, in-person class has limited capacity, so registration is required. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/5wmjmw5a

Know someone who may benefit? Please share and help us spread the word.

13/08/2026

Join us for NAMI’s Veteran’s Connection Recovery Online Support Group this Thursday (08/13/26). In this free, peer-led support group for veterans living with mental illness, you will gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of other veterans, as the group is led by a local Central Oregon Veteran based out of Madras.

NAMI’s Support Groups are unique because they follow a structured model to ensure you and others in the group have an opportunity to be heard and to get what you need. Groups are led by trained facilitators who’ve been there.

August 13, 2026
6:00-7:30 PM

Register here:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/LyKeCEl/MSG?__cf_chl_rt_tk=Ze7qFEwMLNP.v3WprhXJhGMCgRFETlYoCpAJLxTngMY-1785017293-1.0.1.1-RrnAjXo25dOyZ0GAevKPa1Ocg538ZzYK5E8LJXo1t2c

https://namicentraloregon.org/event/veterans-connection-support-group-online/2026-08-06/

12/08/2026

We are excited to share and welcome Michael Steffano as the newest member of our Affiliate Advisory Council! 💙

Michael Steffano brings more than 35 years of entrepreneurial, technology, and organizational leadership experience to the NAMI Central Oregon board. He has founded and led businesses and nonprofit initiatives, guided startups and acquisitions, and currently serves as Managing Partner of Total Rider, a motorcycle safety training organization.

Michael and his wife, Catherine, became NAMI Family Support Group Facilitators in 2019 after experiencing firsthand the value of NAMI’s family education and support.

A longtime believer in service and the power of community, Michael is committed to strengthening NAMI Central Oregon’s long-term capacity, expanding access to support and education, and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health.

Join us in welcoming Michael!

12/08/2026

You're invited. 💙

We're excited to welcome you to the NEW NAMI Sisters In-Person Peer Support Group starting this Thursday at Forage Wellness Collective.

If you're an adult (18+) looking for a welcoming space to talk about mental health, connect with others, and be surrounded by people who understand, we'd love to have you. Whether you're joining for the first time or have attended support groups before, you're welcome just as you are.

This Thursday - 6:00–7:30 PM
Forage Wellness Collective
392 W Main Ave, #102
Sisters, OR

Connection can make all the difference, and we're looking forward to building this community together.

Know someone who may be looking for support? Share this post to help them find us.

Address

Telephone

+15416170167

Website

http://www.namicentraloregon.org/

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