Resource Guide to Mental Health Services
in Montgomery County
Montgomery County
1. Bethesda Beatniks
Dinner Club:
A dinner club for mental health consumers,
their family members, and friends.
— Dinner is held at
ALfio's Trattoria Italian restaurant located at
4515 Willard Avenue in Friendship Heights onthe
second and fourth Wedneday of each month. There
are prominent after-dinner speakers.
— The organizers also stage special events,
such as visual arts festivals, music festivals,
poetry "slams", and the annual post-Christmas
holiday party.
Main Number: 301-279-2578
Web Site: www.bethedabeatniks.org
2. NAMI Montgomery County:
(An Affiliate of National Alliance on Mental Illness,
Maryland):
NAMI Montgomery County is a support, education,
and advocacy organization. Its activities include:
— Peer-led support groups for consumers:
There are 5 groups which meet in Silver Spring
and Rockville,
— Family and friends support groups: There
are 5 groups which meet in SilverSpring, Olney,
Kensington, and Rockville,
— Family-to-Family: A 12-week education
course for family members,
— Peer-to-Peer: A 9-week education course
for consumers,
— In Our Own Voice: Consumers are trained
to present their personal testimony and to encourage
discussion about the realities of coping with
mental illness whle recovering and reclaiming
productive lives. Presentations are made to consumers,
family, friends, professionals, and lay audiences,
— Lending Library: Library of pertinent
books, cassette taes, videos, CDs, DVDs, and other
printed materials. Available for check-out 10:00
a.m.- 2:00 p.m. at the NAMI office, and
— Encouragement to advocate.
3. Metro Washington BPD Education & Support Group Founded in 2003 by family members, this group meets monthly, alternating between Montgomery County and northern Virginia. It is open to family members, consumer/ patients, and mental health professionals at no cost. Programs include speakers; films, videos, and DVD programs abou BPD; and opportunities to share stories, resources, and support. The group was a co-sponsor of the June, 2007 BPD Demystified Symposium held at Suburban Hospital. A list-serve of over 150 names is maintained and is the prime method of disseminating information and meeting announcements. The next meeting is scheduled for September 18, 2007, at Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, 7:30 - 9:00pm, Lower Level Auditorium; Speaker - Kim Gratz, Ph.D., U. of MD Dept. of Psychology. Dr. Grtaz is conducting research on BPD Clinic in College Park this fall.
Contact: Dianne Sterenbuch, President. (301) 469-6101, Sterenbuch@comcast.net
