Our office is located at 2500 Main St. Suite 120, Vancouver, WA 98660.
Call us at (360) 695-2823 or visit anytime! Our office is open five days a week Monday – Friday, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM.
We are an affiliate of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
For more information about our Support Groups, Signature Classes, and Presentations, please peruse our website.
We do not have licensed counselors. If you need a one-on-one counselor, please contact your insurance company for a list of counselors in your area.
Yes we are! Our EIN is 91-1065027. Any donation to us is tax deductible.
All of our services are completely free. They are led by NAMI-trained peers who have their own lived experience. They are not therapists.
We do not have licensed counselors. If you need a one-on-one counselor, please contact your insurance company for a list of counselors in your area.
We advocate through partnering with law enforcement, other first-responders, faith communities, and local businesses to help bring change to the system.
We cannot go to court with you. You can find a court appointed advocate at the courthouse though.
We can, however, support you and find ways you can advocate for yourself. Join any of our online support groups to learn from others, too.
Yes!
You can become a member, volunteer for us, donate, join a support group, or just spread the word that we’re here on social media! Facebook
Mental Health FAQ
First of all, call 988.
If you want more information about preparing for a crisis, visit our Preparing for a Crisis page.
Washington State
Southwest Washington (Clark, Skamania, Klickitat counties) – 1-800-626-8137 | TTY 1-866-835-2755
Cowlitz County – 360-425-6064
Wahkiakum County – 1-800-635-5989
National
National Suicide Prevention Helpline 1-800-273-8255
Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255, press 1
National Crisis Text Line – Text Home to 741741
National Eating Disorders Association Crisis Line – 1-800-931-2237
There can be so many reasons, mainly biological and environmental, why someone has a mental illness. There is still a person behind a mental health condition though. There are many different types of treatment, not just talk therapy.
If you feel like your loved one is sick and doesn’t know it, they may be experiencing anosognosia. When someone rejects a diagnosis of mental illness, it’s tempting to say that he’s “in denial.” But someone with acute mental illness may not be thinking clearly enough to consciously choose denial. They may instead be experiencing “lack of insight” or “lack of awareness.” The formal medical term for this medical condition is anosognosia, from the Greek meaning “to not know a disease.”
For NAMI, recovery is a foundational principle. While serious mental illness impacts individuals in many challenging ways, the concept that all individuals can move towards wellness is paramount. A strengths-based approach is a cornerstone for NAMI initiatives, activities, and efforts. Many, many NAMI members living with mental illness have benefited from the various opportunities within the organization. NAMI has become a vehicle for recovery, and a pathway towards wellness.
Bipolar, Schizophrenia, Borderline Personality Disorder, depression, anxiety. What do they mean?
Check out more about specific mental health conditions here.
It may seem like you/your loved one is being dramatic. But more than likely, they need support now more than ever.
Warning signs: change in behavior or entirely new behaviors are reason for concern, especially in relation to a painful event, loss, or change. Most people who take their lives exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say or do.
Verbal waring signs may include talking about:
- Killing themselves
- Feeling hopeless
- Having no reason to live
- Being a burden to others
- Feeling trapped
- Unbearable pain
Behavioral warning signs may include:
- Increased use of drugs and alcohol
- Looking for a way to end their life, such as searching online for methods
- Withdrawing from normal activities
- Isolating from family and friends
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
- Giving away prized possessions
- Aggression and fatigue
Change in mood, especially in relation to a painful event, loss, or change. Most people who take their own life exhibit one or more warning sign, either through what they say or do.
Learn more from our Suicide Prevention and Awareness Booklet.
If you are feeling suicidal, please call the nearest crisis line or the National Suicide Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Housing FAQ
NAMI SW WA doesn’t have any housing assistance, but Council for the Homeless and the Vancouver Housing Authority does offer assistance. Here is their latest update:
Call Salvation Army in your area to see if they have any rent assistance spots available.
- Salvation Army-Vancouver: 360-892-9050
- Salvation Army-Camas/Washougal: 360-835-3171
Call the St. Vincent DePaul in your area to see if they have rent assistance spots available.
- Vincent DePaul-Vancouver Conference: 360-694-5388 (Vancouver, South Hazel Dell, South Orchards)
- Vincent DePaul-St. John the Evangelist Conference: 360-573-7199 (Brush Prairie, North Hazel Dell, North Orchards, Salmon Creek)
- St Vincent DePaul-St. Phillip Conference: 360-841-8734 (Woodland/Ridgefield/LaCenter)
- St Vincent DePaul-Sacred Heart Conference: 360-576-0122 (Battle Ground area)
- Vincent DePaul-St. Thomas Aquinas Conference: 360-834-2126 (Camas/Washougal)
Loading...
Reload document 
Open in new tab NAMI SW WA does not provide or help find housing. You can find resources at the Vancouver Housing Authority in Clark County at www.vhausa.org.
We are in the same building as the VHA but they are not open to the public. Please call them at 360-694-2501.
If you need immediate housing, view our list of Homeless Shelters or call the Housing Hotline, run by the Council for the Homeless at 360-695-9677.
You can find affordable housing in the Vancouver, WA area here.
You can find affordable assisted living in the Vancouver, WA area here.
Get on the Vancouver Housing Authority waitlist for housing here.
Get on the REACH Community Housing waitlist here.
Find Special Needs Housing here. To qualify for these properties, VHA must verify the disability through a professional third party to determine if an applicant meets the definition of disability for the project. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, and meet income guidelines. Tenant rents are based on 30% of adjusted household income.
Loading...
“COVID has had a significant economic impact on our state and a lot of Washingtonians are still experiencing financial hardships. This bridge creates reasonable steps and will help ensure that renters have the opportunity to receive support and resources that are available to them and that the Legislature intended to be in place to help both landlords and tenants,” Governor Inslee said.
Recent legislative actions include appropriating an additional $650 million for landlord and tenant rental assistance and also establishing certain programs, like the eviction resolution pilot program, which were intended to be in place after the eviction moratorium ends. However, the funding has not yet been disbursed and these programs are not yet operational statewide.
In response to this unintended gap, this order requires, among other things, that:
- Landlords and tenants avail themselves of rental assistance and eviction resolution pilot programs pursuant to SB 5160 to resolve any COVID-related past due rent (February 29, 2020 through July 31, 2021);
- Tenants take steps to pay rent or avail themselves of rental assistance in order to pay future rent (beginning August 1, 2021 throughout the effective dates of this order);
- For any tenant who is or becomes in arrears, landlords offer a reasonable repayment plan to tenants per SB 5160; and
- Tenants respond to notice of funding and other available programs within the timeframes established by SB 5160.
In short, an eviction for non-payment of past due rent is not permitted until such time as the resources and programs established by the Legislature are in place and operational, and eviction for non-payment of future rent (August 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021) is not permitted if the tenant has demonstrably taken action to pay rent. Evictions for other reasons allowed under state law are permitted.
In addition, although late fees are prohibited, rent increases are permitted as provided under state law (RCW 59.18.140).
Finally, the non-traditional and other transient housing previously covered by the eviction moratorium are not included in this order, including hotels/motels, Airbnbs, and camping areas.
This order is effective July 1, 2021 and remains in effect until 11:59 PM on September 30, 2021.
Questions regarding this order may be directed to the Attorney General’s Office.
Read the full proclamation here.
Legal Resource FAQ
Guardianships are meant to provide proper care and advocacy for vulnerable adults, while granting extended responsibility to the guardian. Given the scope of the guardian’s authority, several measures exist to ensure that guardians are accountable for their decisions
There, of course, are other less extreme options such as just being legally responsible for one aspect of your loved one’s life. Read more about Alternatives to Guardianship.
Look into get an Advanced Directive as well before your loved one is incapable of caring for themselves. A mental health advance directive is a legal written document that describes what you want to happen if your mental health problems become so severe that you need help from others. This might be when your judgment is impaired and/or you are unable to communicate effectively.
It can inform others about what treatment you want or don’t want, and it can identify a person to whom you have given the authority to make decisions on your behalf.
For more information, please read the advance directives information for consumers pamphlet.
On July 24, 2015, a new section of Washington State’s involuntary mental health treatment law, Chapter 71.05 Revised Code of Washington (RCW), went into effect. This new section is called “Joel’s Law”. This allows a person’s immediate family member, legal guardian, or conservator to petition the superior court for initial detention under certain conditions, which are outlined below.
A Joel’s Law Petition may be filed under the following circumstances:
- You are an immediate family member, legal guardian, or conservator of the person that you seek to have detained. The law defines “immediate family member” as a spouse, domestic partner, child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, or sibling;
- A Designated Mental Health Professional (DMHP) has conducted an investigation and decided not to detain that person for evaluation and treatment; or
- It has been 48 hours since the DMHP received a request for investigation, and the DMHP has not taken action to have the person detained.
- Read More
Where can I get the paper work?
Download the “Joel’s Law Petition for Initial Detention by Family, Guardian, or Conservator.” This packet includes the petition, declaration, and user guide. It is directly from the Washington Courts website.
Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is a United States means-tested tax payer funded program that provides cash payments to individuals residing in the United States who have paid into social security and are eligible to retire.
Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, is a payroll tax-funded federal insurance program of the United States government. It is managed by the Social Security Administration and designed to provide income supplements to people who are physically restricted in their ability to be employed because of a notable disability.
You may need to apply SSDI if mental illness keeps you from working, keeping track of money, or other things. You must be at least 18 years of age in order to apply for SSDI.
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program pays benefits to you and certain family members if you are “insured,” meaning that you worked long enough – and recently enough – and paid Social Security taxes on your earnings. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources.
While the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are different, the medical requirements are the same. If you meet the non-medical requirement criteria, monthly benefits are paid if you have a medical condition that’s expected to last at least one year or result in death.
Read more about how to get SSDI/SSI and who qualifies.